Fostering technical collaboration among the SEEHN Member States

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Skopje, 17 March 2022 – The SEEHN Regional Health Development Centers (RHDCs) are the main vector of technical expertise within SEEHN. Fostering collaboration at the regional level is crucial to strengthening the inter-country collaboration as this enhances the exchange of information and most importantly the interchange of best practices.

Dr. Mira Dasic, the Director of SEEHN Secretariat had a meeting with Dr. Milica Stanisic, Director, RHDC on Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), Montenegro, and Dr. Igor Spiroski, Professor of Hygiene of Food and Nutrition at the Faculty of Medicine, Republic of North Macedonia.

The discussions focused around the priority areas of interventions to reduce the NCDs risk factors, in particular, the children nutrition and obesity. At the center of the debate were the recommendations from the SEE Health Network “Round Table on Reduction of Childhood Malnutrition and Control of Marketing of Unhealthy Food and Beverages Impact”, held on 25 February 2020 in Podgorica, Montenegro. With the overall objective to reduce childhood malnutrition, the interlocutors shall continue working on proposals for activities whose main priority is fighting obesity. Enabling healthy lifestyle choices from the early age among children is key to preventing obesity and other related diseases.

Meeting with the directors of RHDCs on Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases

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17 March 2022 – Dr. Mira Dasic, Director of the SEEHN Secretariat, held a meeting in Skopje with directors of the two SEEHN RHDCs, Prof. Silvia Bino, SEEHN RHDC on Communicable Diseases (SECID), hosted by the Institute of Public Health of Albania and Dr. Milica Stanisic, RHDC on Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), hosted by the the Institute of Public Health of  Montenegro.

Starting with the conclusions from the Ad-hoc Plenary Meeting related to the Fifth Ministerial Forum, the dialogue continued with defining the specific role the RHDCs would play at the high-level forum and beyond; to act as satellites of health expertise and deliver health data for information-based decisions leading towards adopting adequate health policies.

The interlocutors concluded that there is space for a more visible role for the RHDCs and agreed to continue advocacy for new directions of action and new projects as well as all other initiatives related to public health that might be of interest for the Region.  With that in mind, a visit to Albania has been included in the agenda for this year.

South-Eastern Europe Health Network Ad-Hoc Plenary meeting

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The national representatives of the SEEHN Member States, and the directors of the SEEHN Regional Health Development Centers met virtually for an Ad-Hoc Plenary meeting on 17 March. The event was held virtually considering both health and security circumstances.

The opening remarks were given by Dr. Danijela Urosevic, Chair of SEEHN Executive Committee, Dr. Mira Jovanovski Dašić, Head of Secretariat of the SEEHN, and Mr. Robb Butler, Executive Director of the WHO Regional Director`s Office (pre-recorded message).

The agenda provided the participants with the opportunity to take a glance back at the South Eastern Health Network`s actions under the Serbian Presidency in 2021, followed by discussions on the status of the organization of the 5th Ministerial Forum. Additionally, reflections on the opportunities to strengthen SEEHN Regional Health Development Centers capacity and lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic to increase resilience and strive for further progress were discussed.

In her welcoming remarks, Dr. Danijela Urosevic emphasized the specific context we are facing and the need to use the Belgrade Ministerial Forum to create a momentum to better redefine and rebuild ourselves. “The Belgrade Pledge shall define the next major axes of interventions for the next four years. At the same time, I would reiterate that it is time to reflect on what would be the Network in ten years, what we want to achieve, through which means and how. Our priorities will determine our focus of work and also the budgets to drive for results. Thus, the reflective and coordination exercise shall be our priority and when agreement is reached the implementation will follow”, the official stated.  

Reffering to the same topic, the Head of the SEEHN Secretariat, Dr. Mira Dašić, also stressed (…)”it is the very time to have all the ministers of health around the table. It is of outmost importance to anticipate and plan a relief and supporting plan around core priorities for SEEHN. We, as the SEEHN Secretariat, are looking forward to the opportunity to put all the efforts, to join our expertise and use this political event to bring the highest commitment towards health systems in the SEE Region”.

A special core taskforce has been set up to prepare the Belgrade Declaration, which will be responsible for making decisions leading to a successful event in June. The WHO EURO nominated its representative to the working group –  the WHO representative in Serbia.

The national representatives were also invited to reflect on the challenges of the situation in Ukraine, with a focus on how to mobilize and shape support and with brief updates from the  neighbouring countries on the inflow of refugees. It is of outmost importance to have a coordinated, channelled effort with the involved governments in close partnership.

The migrant flow will determine an increase in demand over the health services but not limited to:

1. Increased need in emergency, maternal, and childcare.
2. Mental health issues from both sides: the overwhelmed health personnel that faces another emergency and from the incoming migrants traumatised by the conflict.
3. NCDs management. 

Since SEEHN has been created on the principle of solidarity with the aim of contributing to social cohesion, peace and security  –  after 20 years it is still relevant. In this situation, SEEHN will  mobilize partners to provide coordinated emergency relief support.

SEEHN Secretariat Seat 9th anniversary

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Today, the SEE Health Network Secretariat is celebrating the 9th anniversary of the official opening of the new Seat in Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia.

                On March 7, 2013, the impressive inaugural event was held under the auspices of the Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia and in the presence of the WHO Regional Director, as well as distinguished members of the Member States, partners, and diplomatic corps.     

               SEEHN appreciation and respect will always go to the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia for its continued support of the Host Agreement, which was essential for the swift operationalization of the Seat. Recognition also goes to our partners for closely promoting an excellent pathway to an outstanding regional public health cooperation in the Southeast Europe region.

World Obesity Day

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With more than 800 people worldwide affected by obesity and millions more at risk, World Obesity Day is an opportunity to raise awareness and enhance the call for cross-cutting policies to address the burden of this life-altering disease.

Moreover, the associated comorbidities such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, as well as stigma, the risk of a psychiatric diagnosis, especially among the pediatric population, reflect the reality of a complex condition with extremely serious social and psychological dimensions. Sadly, the Covid-19 pandemic with the lockdown is  likely to have contributed to the further growth in obesity, undermining the wellbeing of our citizens and placing huge strains on our societies.

There is a clear case for immediate and unwavering action to curb the projections of this silent pandemic that continue to increase its pace, and evidence of the gains through reducing the risk factors have built up over time. Adopting a balanced lifestyle and a healthy diet has a significant contribution to reducing the risk of obesity. Individual action is important and each of us must act to protect our health.

However, individual responsibility is not enough, it must be doubled by the action of the authorities to educate citizens to make healthier choices. Prioritizing the prevention and health literacy of our populations remains crucial to generating healthy behaviors and reducing preventable mortality.

With both the adoption of specific targets in its strategic documents  and operational plans as well as within the projects developed over the years, the SEEHN has consistently advocated for a comprehensive multi-stakeholder policy, including both communication and awareness-raising but also broader fiscal and regulatory measures to effectively tackle obesity.

SEE Health Network has started its efforts back in 2020. SEEHN organized a Round Table with the SEEHN RHDC on NCDs from Montenegro on the “Reduction of Childhood Malnutrition and Control of Marketing of Unhealthy Food and Beverages Impact”, held on 25 February 2020, Podgorica, Montenegro. The Round table was the launching activity with overall objective to reduce childhood malnutrition by focusing especially on obesity and to enable healthy lifestyle choices from the early age among children.

Improving the information on nutrients displayed on food labels, regulating the marketing of food are examples of policies that have emerged in recent years. But there is so much to do. In addition, for that, we need strong commitment, inspiring leadership, cross-sectoral collaboration, and cooperation efforts, capacity building, and coordination of synergies at national, regional and global level.

Strengthening response to current mental health needs in SEEHN Member States

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Dr. Mira Dasic, the Director of SEEHN Secretariat and Secretariat staff met on 22 February 2022, in Skopje Prof. Stojan Bajraktarov, Medical Director at Psychiatry Clinic, Medical Faculty, University “St. Cyril and Methodius”.

The discussions focused around two main activities in the mental health area. Dr Dasic started with an overview of the ongoing activities and events related to mental health. Also explained the role of the SEEHN Secretariat and emphasized its importance as the main engine for providing administrative and technical support to the Network’s activities, in particular to the current projects.

Both parties informed on the progress achieved within the mental health project “Mental Health and Resilience Training for healthcare workers responding to COVID-19 in SEE Region”, implemented by SEEHN Secretariat, funded by Project Hope and Center for Disaster Philanthropy; and on the SEEHN “Comparative analysis study on the mental health services in the SEEHN Member States”.  

The interlocutors agreed on the next steps roadmap to be implemented within both projects. Additionally, the parties touched upon the sustainability of the initiated actions and concluded that there is space for closer cooperation by following the opportunities for strengthening and building further mental health resilience in the South Eastern Europe Region.

South-Eastern Europe Health Network 44th SEEHN Plenary Meeting

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National health coordinators of the SEEHN Member States, representatives of the partner countries, international organizations, directors of the SEEHN Regional Health Development Centers met virtually for the 44^th plenary meeting of the South Eastern Europe Health Network on 21 December 2021.

Organized by the SEE Health Network Serbian Presidency, Executive Committee and Secretariat, the event was held virtually for the third time considering the ongoing pandemic circumstances.

The opening remarks were given by Prof. Dr. Ferenc Vicko, State Secretary of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Serbia, Dr. Danijela Urosevic, Chair of SEEHN Executive Committee, Dr. Mira Jovanovski Dasic, Head of Secretariat, SEE Health Network, Mr. Robb Butler, Executive Director of the WHO Regional Director`s Office and Ms. Tanja Miščević, RCC`s Deputy Secretary General.

SEEHN Member States mitigation of the COVID-19 pandemic and mental health in SEE region was central to the agenda of the 44th plenary meeting. Although the Covid-19 health crisis is still unfolding and its consequences are yet to be fully assessed, the evidence that has already been built on mental health impact of the pandemic is driving renewed interest to mobilize action to build mental health resilience.

The meeting represented a unique opportunity to draw on lessons from the response to the Covid-19 pandemic in the region and address the complex issue of the mental health burden as well as long-standing systemic problems and shortcomings in the mental health services within the Region. 

The session included three keynote presentations, delivered by Dr. Ledia Lezeri, Regional Advisor for Mental Health of the WHO EURO, a country case presentation on Serbian Experience presentedby Dr. Danijela Urosevic and the progress achieved and next steps of the Comparative Analysis “Mental Health Situation Analysis in the SEE region”, and shared byAss. Prof. Dr Stojan Bajraktarov, National Focal Point for Mental Health to the South Eastern Europe Health Network  from the Republic of North Makedonia.

At its December plenary meeting, SEEHN took stock of the Serbian Presidency work in the second term of 2021 and laid the groundwork for its activities in 2022.  The Serbian Presidency also put forward the proposal for the organization of the fifth SEEHN Ministerial Forum by the end of June 2022.

A specific session  of the plenary was dedicated to the collaboration activities during 2021 and next steps for defining the possible areas of collaboration in 2022, highlighting a multistakeholder commitment to support the SEEHN Member States  in achieving long-term results and sustainable health gains  within the Region.

Season’s greetings 2022

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International Universal Health Coverage Day 12.12.2021

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On 12 December 2012, the United Nations unanimously adopted a historical resolution calling for action to accelerate progress toward universal access to quality, affordable healthcare without facing financial hardship.

5 years later, in 2017, UN General Assembly proclaimed 12 December as the International Universal Health Coverage Day in an effort to raise awareness on the paramount importance of strengthening health systems to ensure they are equitable, resilient, and able to meet everyone’s needs.

Today, we are at a critical juncture, where the devastating consequences of the last two years threaten not only to fail to meet the SDG 2030 agenda but also to reverse already achieved development gains in many areas. The pandemic toll has been unprecedented and yet to be fully assessed, but with resolute recommitment from the highest political level, countries can still deliver on the 2030 Agenda.

The theme chosen for celebration in 2021 Leave no one`s health behind-Invest in health system for all is proof of the pressing call for countries to champion smarter investments in health which would rebuild the post-pandemic world in a better and more equitable way.

Today’s harsh reality urges us to reconfigure, adjust and adapt our health systems to build resilience and responsiveness to the needs of our people while placing people-centred primary healthcare at the core of the functioning of high-performance health systems.

The SEE Health Network provides an excellent platform to join forces with multi-stakeholder partners in the SEE region to maintain health high on the political agenda, and to target the right investments for better impact.

The Member States of the SEEHN are guided by the Chisinau Pledge priorities, which embedded at its core the universal health coverage approach. Moreover, SEEHN is determined to contribute to the ambitious strategic agenda based on the WHO European Programme of Work, 2020–2025 – “United Action for Better Health in Europe” and the recently endorsed Roadmap for Health in the Western Balkans, 2021-2025 as important tools for policy coherence and a pathway for investment in health in the region.

Endorsement of WHO “Roadmap for Health and Well-being in the Western Balkans (2021-2025)”

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At the special event at the margins of the CEI Summit dedicated to the endorsement of WHO “Roadmap for Health and Well-being in the Western Balkans (2021-2025)” Prime Ministers commit to facilitating health reform initiatives to accelerate closing sub region’s health gap with EU & attaining SDGs.

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ENDORSEMENT REMARKS

Western Balkans AND PARTNERS’ STATEMENTS OF ENDORSEMENT

3 December 2021, Budva (Montenegro)

Message from the director of the SEEHN Secretariat Dr Mira Jovanovski Dasic at the CEI Special Event on endorsement of WHO Roadmap for the WB:

Your Excellency Mr Krivokapić, [Prime Minister of the Government of Montenegro]

Dear Dr. Kluge, WHO Regional Director, [Regional Office for Europe]

Dear Mr Antonione, [CEI Secretary General]

Your Excellences, Ladies and gentlemen

I feel honored today to address such a distinguished audience on behalf of the South Eastern-Europe Health Network.

In our jubilee year, when we celebrate 20 years of partnership action of the South-eastern Health Network, we welcome our gathering as a true expression of solidarity and unity as the only possible way forward to support our Western Balkans Member States in the current context of COVID-19: Together – in partnership for health and wellbeing.

We welcome the Roadmap for Health in Western Balkans as a robust and evidence-based pathway for our future joint and individual investments, policy, and action, where health is in the center of the economy of wellbeing.

Thus, we praise our Western Balkans Member States for endorsing the Roadmap. The Joint Statement of Action demonstrates a tangible expression of multilateralism and strong unity in action for closing the health gaps between the Member States in our Region.

We commit to fully support the implementation of the Roadmap as an active and strong partner in attaining the three strong and interlinked Roadmap’s objectives:

•          Health is our crucial mandate, and we will continue working and advocating to position health high in our Region’s political and developmental agendas, most notably through our Ministerial Forums and Pledges. As we are approaching our 6th Ministerial Forum in 2022, we will base our priorities and actions for our Region on the Roadmap, and will further build synergies and cooperation with partners and advocate to increase and better focus investments because of boosting the Roadmap’s implementation

•          Through our Regional Health Development Centers of excellence, we will continue working with the WHO Regional Office for Europe, European Union, Central European Initiative, RCC, and other bilateral partners and donors to increase outreach and support to our Member States in implementing the Roadmap reform initiatives in the key areas of action.

Your excellences, the SEEHN has been created based on solidarity and unity with a strong mandate for peace and stability through health as a neutral interface of action among many stakeholders.

Throughout the past 20 years, the South-Eastern Europe Health Network has offered an excellent platform for collective and harmonized action for health in our Region through our well-developed governance mechanisms. Today, with no less eagerness, we stand ready to join efforts to contribute and implement this ambitious but realistic Roadmap in the ultimate interest of our people’s wellbeing and closing the health gap in our Region.

Director of SEEHN Secretariat participation at the European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction

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Dear participants and colleagues,

It is my pleasure to address you, on behalf of the SEEHN Secretariat, at the European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction. I wish to congratulate the organizers for providing us with this platform for discussions.

When approached by the Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative for South-Eastern Europe to contribute and implement the project on the global INFORM risk index in Member States of bilateral mandate, SEEHN Secretariat took great interest. The countries that participated in the pilot assessment are Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia.

SEEHN Secretariat, in particular, supported the data collection of health related indicators as part of the subnational INFORM risk index for the above mentioned countries. The process started in January 2021 and we had ensured commitment from the respective ministries of health.

Using the subnational INFORM model for South East Europe, data has been gathered at the first administrative level (corresponding to the subnational regions, capitals and municipalities) of Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia, in total for 44 administrative units.

The INFORM model is based on three dimensions of risk: Hazards & Exposure, Vulnerability and Lack of Coping Capacity – to provide an overview of the underlying factors leading to humanitarian risk. Thus, the results are of particular importance to health actors reflecting on the preparedness of the national systems.

From the other side, the COVID-19 pandemic reminded us of how important is the preparedness and resilience. These two areas are largely discussed during the last two years especially on how we can improve them and be prepared to an eventual new threat. 

At this very point, I believe that the sub-national and the regional cross-countries collaboration, and coordination between international actors shall trail a comprehensive and timely preparedness and response action to emergencies.

In this respect, the first step would be to share the results and raise awareness on the current situation, with the government stakeholders. This can be done in various ways, during the bilateral meetings, in the framework of the SEEHN Plenary meetings and by using the next year platform of the ministerial Forum. 

 We shall back our communication efforts with solutions by providing capacity building to the countries, or even dive and select the riskier regions – enhance capacities and ensure transfer of knowledge and practices from the better off to the less safe regions. 

At the same time, our efforts could be channelled to streamline fundraising to this priority and support all the activities proposed earlier.

The INFORM index supports a proactive disaster risk management framework. It will be helpful for an objective allocation of resources for disaster risk reduction and management as well as for coordinated actions focused on anticipating, mitigating, and preparing for humanitarian emergencies. It also identifies areas for improvement in national disaster data availability and compliance with implementation of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, SDGs and other global initiatives.

In conclusion, I wish to remind ourselves how the COVID-19 pandemic just brought preparedness to disasters back into the top priority line. We shall use the created momentum to build upon it. Despite all the challenges that we have, we keep our work centred to better serve SEEHN Member States. 

Finally, I wish to emphasize the importance of the topic and to highlight the particular fruitful cooperation of the SEEHN with all parties involved: the Secretariat of Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Initiative for South-Eastern Europe and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Governments of the SEEHN Member States involved.

I express my thanks on this occasion and encourage this practice to continue in the future to strengthen the regional cooperation within South Eastern Europe.