1. BARRIERS FACED BY YOUNG ROMA PEOPLE IN ACCESSING HEALTH CARE PROVISION B. M. Varga - Roma Health Fund Cand. MSc EPH, University of Maastricht

2. Barriers A) Health inequalities B) Lack of registration in the health system B) Lack of non-formal sex-education (STDs, prevention, protection, etc.) C) Cultural heritages, e.g.: early pregnancy

3. United Nations Development Program (UNDP) survey  Related national governments did not cover about 20 percent of Roma respondents with medical insurance or they were not aware if they were covered. (2011)  15% percent of Roma children under the age of 14 are not vaccinated compared to 4% of children from non- Roma households. (2004)  66% of Roma stated that they could not afford prescription drugs compared to 29% of the majority population. (2004)  One third of Roma respondents, aged 35 to 54, reported health problems limiting their daily activities. (2011)

4. EC - Roma Health Report  The Roma population is generally younger than the non-Roma  Roma experience an approximately 20 years lower life expectancy than the non-Roma populations  The lower life expectancy is in specified cases are linked to social determinants that Roma populations are afflicted  Infant mortality rates are higher in certain Roma communities, migrant ones in particular

5. EC - Roma Health Report  The Report states that the average reported age of death in 2011 was 59.2 years for Roma men compared to 65.6 years for non-Roma men and 63.0 years for Roma women compared to 80.2 for non-Roma women. This number would indicate that Roma men live 6.4 or 10.8% fewer years and women live 17.2 or 27.3% years shorter than non- Roma populations.

6. WHO – Health 2020  An evidence-based health policy framework for Europe  - to ensure universal health care coverage  - to decrease social determinants  - to focus on public health

7. Roma Health Fund Objectives: - To bridge the wide gap between the health care services of Roma and non-Roma people - To provide information for the Roma youth, especially for young Roma girl about reproductive health care, about sex education with special emphasis on the issue of prevention.

8. Roma Health Fund Activities: - Non-formal sex education for Roma youngsters - Non formal education for health care professionals about the Roma culture

9. B. M. Varga Roma Health Fund Cand. MSc EPH, University of Maastricht bvarga@romahealthfund.org Thank you for your attention.