Reducing access inequalities in primary healthcare for socially significant diseases at CB Area’s deprived communities

The CB area includes some of the most deprived and isolated communities (mountainous and rural) of both countries with high Health inequalities in the CB area that are shaped by the inequalities in availability, access and quality of services, by the financial burden these impose on people, and even by the linguistic, cultural and gender-based barriers.
 

The general objective of the Project is to reduce health inequalities in CB area by protecting citizens from socially sensitive diseases, promoting health prevention, foster supportive environments for healthy lifestyles and encouraging innovation in health.

The Project will focus on the following categories of diseases:
a) main non-communicable diseases (NCDs) mainly cardiovascular diseases (including cholesterol), chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes 40% of the population affected 
b) Psychiatric (mental) diseases
Both of the above categories of diseases are related to deprivation, poverty, inequality and other social and economic determinants of health.
 

The main delivered outputs of  “equal2health” project are:
1) 1 joint “Observatory equal2health for socially significant diseases” in CB area 
2) 2 Mobile Units for providing medical exams and prevention awareness campaign in all CB area.
3) 2 Pilot Action implementation on deprived & isolated communities (1 in Roma community in Diavata Thessaloniki, 1 in Mountainous/rural isolated area of Nedelino Municipality in Rhodopi mountain). 
4) Awareness campaign to main taget population and to Medical Staff and Autorities
5)Policy recommendation on reducing health inequalities and dealing with the commonly and socially significant diseases. 

The outputs contribute to the achievement of specific objective of the Programme as well as to the achievement of its output and result indicators. The issue of equal access to health is an important EU policy, which recently have been put in high priority and by now so little progress have been achieved. The project with its research and recommendations will contribute substantially to National compliance with EU relevant policies and priorities.