We have lost a great man on August 11, 2022. Dr Alexandre Berlin had many titles and great achievements as international public servant, scientist, health and environmental champion. Yet, the role that defined SEEHN and marked its existence was his profound belief in health as core value and extraordinary promotion of the public health Alliance created in the South Eastern Europe Region. 

In his role as Director General for Health at the European Commission, he created the foundation and arduously supported the SEE Health Network. His legacy will remain forever, recalled and cherished within the SEEHN and beyond.

SEEHN thanks him for the extensive contribution and tremendous support over the last two decades.

His departure is deeply mourned by all who had the chance to know him. As a last tribute to a great man, the SEEHN is intending to create the Dr Alexandre Berlin memorial award that shall prize a consistent support and achievements in public health in the SEE Region. The memorial prize will be awarded once in five years at the Ministerial Forum of the SEEHN. This way his legacy will defy time and his name remembered for the decades to come. Sincere condolences to his family, two daughters Olivia and Angela, his four grandkids and one great grandson!

SEEHN’s most sincere condolences to Montenegro and the families of the victims. Our thoughts are with the people of Montenegro.
We wish those injured a speedy recovery.

19 July, 2022 • Palace of Parliament, Bucharest, Romania

A look back to lead forward: Tracing new paths to excellence in nursing and midwifery

On July 19, Dr. Mira Jovanovski Dasic represented the SEEHN Network at the High-Level Anniversary Conference, Looking Back to Lead Forward: Tracing new paths to excellence in nursing and midwifery, in Bucharest, Romania.

The conference was organized under the High Patronage of the President of Romania, by the Order of Nurses and Midwives from Romania in partnership with the Chamber of Deputies and the Ministry of Health, with the participation of outstanding representatives from the World Health Organization/Regional Office for Europe, the International Council of Nursing, the European Federation of Nurses’ Associations, the Economic and Social Committee of the European Union, the European Nursing Council, the USA and other bilateral partner organizations.

High-ranking officials from the Presidential Administration, the Government of Romania and honorable parliamentarians joined the event in the presence of more than 500 participants, nurses and midwives from Romania.

In addition to being an anniversary edition of 20 years of organizational development of the professional organization, the event marked the crucial role of nurses and midwives as essential actors in providing adequate care for people, promoting and protecting the health of communities, or responding to health threats.

The director of the SEEHN Secretariat addressed the audience in the second panel of the Conference, aimed to promote the strategic importance of investing in nursing and midwifery in upskilling the healthcare professionals to support their vital contribution to sustainable health policies.
„Nurses are one of the core pillars of the health systems and are at the forefront of the COVID-19 response – providing care and playing a critical role in emergency risk reduction, preparedness and response. Therefore, it is crucial to match national health policies and strategies with labour market demands and educational policies and plans. Raising educational program standards and providing retraining opportunities would enable local healthcare workers to get new knowledge and experience without relocating”, dr. Dasic highlighted in the beginning of her intervention.
Several SEEHN initiatives aimed at strengthening and modernizing the workforce capacities in nursing and midwifery in areas such as mental health, in primary care, in vaccination, in NCDs were shared with the audience, placing an emphasis on the added value of the regional cooperation to maximise health outcomes in the region.

Sofia 14 July 2022 – Head of SEEHN Secretariat Dr. Mira Jovanovski – Dasic met today with the Director of the National Center of Public Health and Analyses Prof. Plamen Dimitrov. 

Dr. Jovanovski – Dasic congratulated Prof. Dimitrov, a longstanding National Health Coordinator Alternate for the Republic of Bulgaria, on his appointment as member of the Executive Committee of the SEEHN. 

Prof. Dimitrov reiterated his support to the SEEHN and presented the ongoing activities of the National Center.

The interlocutors also discussed the situation with the RHDC located in Bulgaria and recognized the potential of establishing another one dedicated to a topic of regional importance.In conclusion to the productive meeting, next steps towards expanding the cooperation have been defined.

Sofia 14 July 2022 – Head of SEEHN Secretariat Dr. Mira Jovanovski – Dasic met today with the Director of the Bulgarian Diplomatic Institute Tanya Mihaylova.  The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Bulgaria helped organizing this meeting with the aim of assessing potential forms of cooperation between the two parties by linking health to diplomacy. 

Dr. Jovanovski – Dasic used the opportunity to give an insight on the organizational structure and activities of the SEEHN and shared her views on the intention to finance with CEI, a health diplomacy course in Sofia.  She clarified that the target group would be the Ministry of Health staff, with the opportunity of attendance by the representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for two participants per SEEHN Member State with the possibility of extending the invitation to partner countries, partners and other IOs.

Ms. Mihaylova thanked Dr. Jovanovski – Dasic for the interest expressed in having a brief training in health diplomacy in Sofia and gave a short overview of the work of the Institute. She explained that training so far was provided in fields such as regional issues and security, energy diplomacy, economic diplomacy, environment, public diplomacy, diplomatic protocol; but that health diplomacy is both an opportunity and a challenge and that the idea is interesting.  The only potential setback in organizing such an event in October or November could be the lack of time, the availability of experts/lecturers and the eventual worsening of the epidemiological situation.  

The interlocutors agreed to intensify communication on the subject with concrete steps to be taken as early as beginning of September.

Head of SEEHN Secretariat, Dr. Mira Jovanovski – Dasic, participated at the two-day workshop devoted to Pandemic Preparedness Planning, organized on 12 – 13 July in Sofia, Bulgaria by SECID SEEHN Regional Health Development Center (RHDC) on communicable diseases, with the support of CDC Atlanta and WHO. Around 40 epidemiologists, surveillance and laboratory professionals, Ministry personnel, emergency response and immunization team members and communication specialists took part at this event, which was the third and final part of the project. The workshops’ objectives were to assist participants in identifying gaps to support the pandemic plan revision, develop concrete steps to build capacities to fill those gaps, and provide results and information on the experience to support WHO work in updating global pandemic guidance and tools.  It provided the participants with the space and time to follow-up on the knowledge of performing SWOT analysis, pinpoint crucial gaps, and update the present strategy. Participants left the workshop with an assessment of their current pandemic preparedness plans’ potential and strength, as well as with the strategies for revision and capacity growth.

Around the world, on 12th of May, we celebrate Nurses and their vital role in the health of our health care systems.

Since 1974, we pay tribute to nurses’ incredible work, professionalism, selflessness, courage, strength, and perseverance and this has been highlighted more than ever by the hard times of the Covid-19 pandemic.

SEEHN would like to take this opportunity to express its gratitude for the tireless efforts of the nurses in the medical teams to protect the health of others. In the face of exhaustion, stress, and physical and emotional trauma, nurses have inspired confidence and hope for the future.

At the same time, SEEHN offers its deepest condolences to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the fight for the common good. These losses of the medical staff cannot be forgotten, and their memory must prevent a crisis of a similar magnitude from happening again.

“Invest in Nursing and respect the rights to secure global health”- the theme of this year`s celebration campaign is not only a justified call to action but a moral duty, which SEEHN firmly upholds!

Happy Nurses day!

Dr. Mira Dašić, the Head of SEEHN Secretariat highlights the importance of action to improve #AirQuality

❗️Poor #AirQuality results in millions of deaths each year
❗️Exposure to air pollution ⬇️ life expectancy around the 🗺️

#HealthierTomorrow #CleanAir

TRENDS IN AIR QUALITY AND HEALTH IN SOUTHEAST EUROPE

On April 8, Dr. Mira Dašić, the Head of SEEHN Secretariat met in Belgrade with Mr Vladimir Arsenovic the Director of the Agency for Accreditation of Health Care Institutions in Serbia and the Director of the SEEHN RHDC on Accreditation and continuous quality improvement of health care.

The parties assessed the status of the Centre’s activities and discussed ways to further develop and expand its work in the field at regional level.

In the wake of the pandemic, joining forces to capitalize on the importance of continually improving the quality of healthcare is greater than ever and we must seize the opportunities to step up our efforts to strengthen and redesign our health care systems.

The interlocutors also agreed to organize a round table on mandatory versus voluntary accreditation of health care institutions, which will take place at the end of May 2022.

The visit is part of the SEEHN Secretariat’s agenda to increase the visibility of the Network’s RHDCs and enhance synergies between different areas of activity at the regional levels.

It is celebrated every year on 7 April with the aim of drawing attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world. On this date in 1948, World Health Organization was founded.

This year, the World Health Day is dedicated to raising the awareness on the threats posed by climate change and calls for governments to take immediate steps on climate change to protect the health of the communities they serve.

According to WHO, 13 million deaths around the world each year are due to avoidable environmental causes and climate change is expected to cause approximately 250 000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050 and a wider range of health problems such as respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, injuries, and premature death.

The global scale of environmental health problems requires consideration on how to curtail its size within the limits of global ecological sustainability.  Enhancing the public narrative about climate change is not only justified, but it would make a difference in policy surrounding the paradigm.

The 2030 agenda recognizes that the relationship between health, economic development and social cohesion is linked to climate change and calls for a roadmap for climate actions that will reduce emissions and build climate resilience.

Building upon the knowledge that people’s health is intertwined with our planet’s climate, health must take a pivotal part of every country’s climate policy. The campaign “Our planet, our health” lays extraordinary foundational premises for intensive efforts to protect the health of the planet and the well-being of its people!

Belgrade, 1 April 2022 – As a follow up to the recently completed project “Mental Health and Resilience Training for healthcare workers responding to COVID-19 in SEE Region”, SEEHN Secretariat Director Dr. Mira Jovanovski – Dasic paid a working visit to the the Clinic for Psychiatric Diseases and the Mental Health Center “Laza Lazarevic” in Belgrade.  The visit was hosted by the Clinic’s Director Prof. Ivana Stasevic Karlicic, MD, who was also the Mental Health Expert and Master Trainer from Serbia during the project. 

The first part of the visit was organized at the premises of the Clinic for Psychiatric Diseases in Visegradska 26 where the meeting between the directors was held, also attended by the National Focal Point from Serbia Assistant Prof. Vladan Djordjevic, MD.  Prof. Stasevic Karlicic used this opportunity to present the latest novelties introduced in the field of mental health in Serbia, mainly relating to easier access to mental health services, anonimous, free of charge and without the need of presenting the health insurance card or the GP’s refferal in order to avoid possible stigma.  She also explained that persons with mental health issues since recently also have the possibility to contact experts online.

Dr. Jovanovski – Dasic thanked Prof. Stasevic Karlicic for her invaluable contribution during the implementation phase of the project and her kind hospitality.  She expressed hope that by joining forces this momentum can continue and much more will be done for mental health well being in the Region.

After the meeting, a tour of the Mental Health Centre in Terazije 3/3 was organized.

Belgrade, 29 March 2022 – In the light of the recent establishment of the Organizational Board for the Fifth Ministerial Forum, director of SEEHN Secretariat Dr. Mira Jovanovski – Dasic and Chair of SEEHN Executive Committee and National Health Coordinator of the Republic of Serbia Dr. Danijela Urosevic met today at the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia. 

The purpose of the meeting was to elaborate on the most important questions regarding the forthcoming Forum that is going to be hosted by the Republic of Serbia in June.  Dr. Urosevic suggested the Forum to be held during the first half of June, having in mind the tight agenda and the end of the Serbian Presidency.  She also proposed potential venues and reminded that she will continuously support all the activities through her role in the Organizational Board.   Dr. Dasic informed that the Secretariat is intensively working on the preparation of the necessary documents, including the draft text of the Belgrade Pledge that will be soon shared for comments with all member states. She added that in the next period the SEEHN Secretariat would organize a series of virtual meetings with the aim of monitoring the progress towards a successful event.

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.