Equitable access to health services for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in the context of COVID-19

Equitable access to health services for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in the context of COVID-19

December 2020 – December 2021

Amount granted:
63.250 USD
Donors:
Soros Moldova Foundation

Project goal:
To promote equitable access to essential health services during the COVID-19 pandemic for people with disabilities, the elderly, people with chronic diseases, people at high risk of HIV infection and those in need of palliative care.

Project objectives:

  • Sociological research on access to essential health services, including services related to COVID, for people with disabilities, the elderly, people with chronic diseases, people at high risk of HIV infection and those in need of palliative care, compared with the general population of the Republic of Moldova;
  • Developing and implementing a common platform of evidence-based Advocacy, based on the findings and recommendations of sociological research, to promote equitable access to essential health services and services related to Covid-19 for people with disabilities, the elderly, people with chronic diseases, people at high risk of HIV infection and those in need of palliative care.

Main activities:

  1. Design, organization and implementation of Sociological Research on essential health services; organizing focus groups, including with people living with HIV, and representatives of CSOs active in promoting and defending the rights of people from vulnerable and marginalized groups – targets of the project; organizing interviews with experts – representatives of central and local public authorities in the medical and social field, and health service providers; analysis of telephone calls received by the Hotline support service for persons with disabilities;
  2. Organizing a public conference for the public presentation of research results;  with the participation of representatives of central and local public administration, donors, interested CSOs, media institutions from the country; dissemination of research results at national level;
  3. Mobilizing civil society representatives in implementing evidence-based advocacy actions; planning and conducting workshops with the representatives of CSOs active in working with the people from the target groups (people with disabilities, elderly, people with chronic diseases including palliative care, people at high risk of HIV infection); drafting and sending petitions to public actors responsible for ensuring access to health services for the population, based on the findings and recommendations of the sociological study;
  4. Carrying out a media-advocacy campaign in social media; dissemination of results of sociological research in “easy to read and understand” language.