As part of the project "Healthy aging in the cross-border area - HEAL" - funded
by the European Union as part of the IPA program of cross-border cooperation
Serbia - Bosnia and Herzegovina 2014 - 2020 - the second training for
members of local mobile teams made up of volunteers from Red Cross organizations
was held in Letenka. from the territory of Srem and from the
Red Cross Federation from the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, on
the topic of care for the elderly.
The training in Letenca brought together 30 participants who had the
opportunity to learn the skills of providing assistance to elderly
fellow citizens in cross-border areas. This training was the second
of four planned in the first series of trainings. It consisted of a
theoretical part where the participants learned more about dementia,
heart and lung diseases, diabetes, as well as a practical part
where the participants learned how to measure sugar, blood pressure,
pulse and how to provide first aid to the elderly.
This project reflects a serious concern for the growing elderly population.
According to the World Health Organization,
it is estimated that the number of people over the age of 60 worldwide
will jump from 12% to 22% of the total world population between 2015 and 2050.
Due to this dramatic increase in the number of elderly population, it is
essential to coordinate and integrate the services provided by the health
care systems in the region.
One of the main goals of the project is the development of new
standardized health-preventive services for senior citizens in rural areas.
It is also planned to activate local mobile teams that will provide these services,
as well as to implement a public educational campaign on the preservation of
public health.
The HEAL project will be implemented in 12 municipalities and cantons
in the cross-border region, of which in 7 municipalities in the
Republic of Serbia (Irig, Šid, Ruma, Inđija, Sremska Mitrovica,
Pećinci, Stara Pazova) and in 5 cantons in the Federation of
Bosnia and Herzegovina (Tuzlan, Posavina, Central Bosnia, Zenica-Doboj
and Sarajevo Cantons). The HEAL project will last until July 31, 2024.