On 28 and 29 March 2022 the Multi-country – TAIEX Workshop on Good Practice in Strengthening Health Systems for the Prevention and the Control of TB in the SEEHN Member States (Western Balkans and beyond) was held virtually.

The initiative for this multi-country event was developed and implemented as a partnership between the IPH of Albania and the SEEHN Secretariat, and funded by TAIEX. Around 50 participants from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo* and Turkey gathered for two days to accelerate progress towards the elimination of this life-threatening disease.

The aim of the meeting was to map the current Tuberculosis (TB) situation, review the TB management, and develop recommendations for national comprehensive policies, strategies and plans for scaling up programmes towards effective interventions to prevent and control TB in the South Eastern Europe Region.

Additionally, discussions focused on the screening and management of TB in the refugees’ population. The current experience came to particular relevance and Turkey shared their expertise in the matter.  SEEHN and its international partners will continuously join efforts and will work to support the Member States in their endeavour to eliminate this deadly disease.

Dr. Mira Jovanovski Dasic, head of SEEHN Secretariat, took part at The First World Conference ^“Fighting COVID-19 Pandemic – Health Challenges^” that was held from 26 to 28 March 2022 in Belgrade, Serbia. On the first day, as part of session three, she gave a presentation on the “Regional collaboration and partnership in supporting the healthcare workers in COVID-19 pandemic”.  Representatives of WHO, UNDP, UNOPS, and UNICEF, also attended this session, dedicated to international organizations.

The Conference gathered almost 1000 participants and 300 experts from all over the world around 50 different topics related to the pandemic.  The aim of this groundbreaking conference was to create a platform for better preparedness and response to the upcoming health system challenges based on the knowledge, experience, and practice gained worldwide during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Serbian Prime Minister H.E. Ms. Ana Brnabić, Serbian Minister of Health Dr. Zlatibor Loncar, WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr. Hans Kluge, Conference-Chairlady Prof. Tatjana Adžiċ-Vukičeviċ, MD, and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade Prof. Lazar Davidoviċ, MD, addressed the audience during the opening ceremony.

The agenda included topics ranging from leadership and coordination in the prevention and control of COVID-19, public health partnerships and cooperation in the fight against COVID-19, important health care challenges triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and their possible solutions, access to medicines and medical devices during the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health during the crisis caused by COVID-19, influences and challenges in the treatment of emergency and elective patients, COVID- 19 in health care workers, physical performance of patients with COVID-19, “pneumo” related COVID-19 ” complications etc.