HOW TO REACH SUCCESSFUL PROTECTION AND PEOPLES HEALTH IMPROVEMENT
20.10.2014

Total system of our health protection deals mostly with diseases which is also their task says Boban Dzunic, president of Palilula Municipality for the magazine `House of good health` published by Dom Zdravlja, Nis (Health Center). From our health institutions and local governments it is expected that said president Dzunic, on the way to European integration, in Serbia we come to those part of recommendations of World Health Organization and European Union that speak about health protection but also health improvement.

Can we take into account the example of Palilula Municipality one of five Nis municipalities that spreads to south range of Nis valley on the surface of 117,37 square kilometers and comprises of narrow city part - old carsija of Nis (Nis old town part, archaic). Along the range it is leaned to 15 rural settlements where about 90 000 people live. Life in urban or parts of rural environment in devastated economical surrounding like Palilula is, with marginalized social groups, demands new approach to health protection of the people. Total system of our health protection deal mostly with illnesses, which is actually their task, says Boban Dzunic, president of Palilula Municipality. In this way with approaching health protection and people, we are realizing the programme that gives higher financial savings. According to Dzunic words, one of the priorities in the work of Municipality is actually taking into account health and economic state of social most jeopardized categories of people: dislocated people, people with invalidity, old and sick people, old households in the rural area of the municipality, Roma population. On the territory of the municipality of Palilula, there is large number of people who need some type of health-care and social assistance. Almost every 14th resident of Palilula is older than 70. According to statistical data in the field of social needs, the total number of persons who have registered with the Center for Social Work "Sveti Sava" in Nis, over 67 percent of the population (around 3360) is from Palilula. Average earnings per working-age population in the municipality of Palilula is at the very bottom of cities and municipalities in the Republic. These data did not discourage us, says the president of Palilula Municipality. We perceive problems and demands of citizens, with the help of the City, and the Republic and donors, over projects, we are providing some funding to programs of support of social protection of the population.

Health care for the residents, work improvement and equipping of health facilities-clinics and expanding of health services in Palilula territory, are the goals to strive for. In association with the Health-prevention centers in Nis, this year we have organized several health campaigns, lectures and activities for the residents of urban areas, such as the "Bazaar of health" and in July and August when this activity was conducted in the rural area of the municipality - "closer the patients ", which involved the population in rural settlements of the ten rural settlements -emphasized the president Boban Džunić. A team of health workers Health Centre Nis, provided the services with taking anamnesis, clinical examination, ECG at home, determining the blood sugar level. Promotional activity " closer to the patients" and checking the health of the population in the rural area of the municipality Palilula specially taken into account older patients, patients with difficulties or completely immobile and depended on someone assistance and care. After physicians evaluation, the condition of the patients, treated under this programme, usually can be diagnosed high blood pressure and elevated blood sugar levels. The ability to control their own health for free under this action in Palilula took 271 patients in rural areas.

Palilula Municipality listens and hears the needs of its citizens and realizes successful cooperation with numerous organizations, health on educational institutions, associations representing the interests of all categories of the population. For disabled people Palilula Municipality organized free transport specially with equipped van, built an access ramp to the municipal government building, imposed high standards for use in communication with municipal officials to all citizens.