The fourth training was held for members of local mobile teams on Igman

The fourth training for volunteers members of local mobile teams from the Red Cross organizations from the territory of Srem and the Red Cross Federation from the territory of five cantons of Bosnia and Herzegovina was held during the period of 6 to 10 November 2023. The training was held within the project “Healthy aging in the cross-border area – HEAL”.

The training at Igman brought together 35 volunteers who had the opportunity to learn about the set of measures and the skills to help elderly fellow citizens in the cross-border area. This training was the fourth of the four trainings foreseen by the project. At the beginning of the training, the participants in groups presented the tasks obtained during the second training held in Letenka. During the training, participants practiced communication skills within the team, as well as communication skills with the elderly. By playing different roles, the volunteers practiced problem-solving skills in the field. On the last day, the participants had practical exercises in the field of first aid in which they went through the steps they should take if they identified a health problem in an elderly person while working in the field. At the end of the training, the students practiced and presented the acquired knowledge in the listed areas and took an exit test to demonstrate the newly acquired knowledge. This training rounded off the theoretical and practical knowledge of the local mobile teams volunteers which are necessary for going out into the field and for practical work with the elderly in the territories of the cross-border region provided for by the project.

The project “Healthy Aging in the Cross-Border Area – HEAL” reflects a serious concern for the growing number of elderly populations in both countries. More and more elderly people require attention and care every day and the HEAL project aims to provide them with adequate health care through the formation of mobile teams that will visit rural areas and provide them with the necessary assistance.

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.

The HEAL project will be implemented in 12 municipalities and cantons in the cross-border region with seven municipalities belonging to the Republic of Serbia (Irig, Šid, Ruma, Inđija, Sremska Mitrovica, Pećinci, Stara Pazova), while five cantons belong to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Tuzlanski, Posavina, Central Bosnia, Zenica-Doboj and Sarajevo Cantons).

The HEAL project began on February 1, 2023, and will last until July 31, 2024. The total value of the project is EUR 254,447.77 of which the value of donations from the European Union as part of the IPA program of cross-border cooperation Serbia – Bosnia and Herzegovina is EUR 216,280.60.