Public Health Preparedness for Cross-borders Epidemics and Emergencies (ERI-Health) Project

Public Health Preparedness for Cross-borders Epidemics and Emergencies (ERI-Health) Project

Duration of the project: 15.01.2021.-14.01.2023.

Total project budget: 999.329,54 EUR

The amount of EU co-financing: 849.430,09 EUR

Budget allocated to Public Health Institute of Republic of Srpska: 353.970 EUR

The cross-border cooperation project is implemented under Priority Axis 1 Improving the quality of public social and health services in the programme area of the Interreg IPA Cross-border Cooperation Programme Croatia-Bosnia and Herzegovina-Montenegro 2014-2020, by three project partners – the Public Health Institute of Republic of Srpska (Lead Partner), the Public Health Institute of Sisak-Moslavina County and the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro. The project partners have jurisdiction and responsibility to perform communicable diseases surveillance, diagnostic, prevention and control, and to implement actions to protect human health. Project intends to improve anthropozoonoses and vector-borne diseases diagnostic services, which will enable the project partners to timely detect public health events. Given the public health importance of COVID-19, the focus of the project is on improvement of the PCR diagnostic services for COVID-19. Project will also provide training for health professionals on the anthropozoonoses and vector-borne diseases diagnostic and control and inform targeted groups and public on new and improved services.

Project overall objective is to improve quality and accessibility of public health services in cross-border epidemics and emergencies. Partners will be able to share information and timely notify others about CD outbreaks and other confirmed events of public health concern. Main project outputs will be: (1) Population of 52.430 covered by improved diagnostic services for anthropozoonoses (including COVID-19) and vector-borne diseases and (2) 265 epidemiologists, sanitary engineers/technicians and doctors in public primary health care facilities trained in prevention and control of public health cross-border threats caused by anthropozoonoses/vector-borne diseases. Project target groups are public providers of primary health care and veterinarian services, local public authorities, regional public authorities, national public authorities, and general public. Cross-border cooperation is necessary by the cross-border nature of CDs themselves. Where cross- border cooperation exists, coordinated efforts create both better results and synergy.

As the lead partner, Public Health Institute of Republic of Srpska is primarily responsible to ensure the smooth running of the project and compliance with the financial, administrative and legal obligations, ensuring the achievement of the project objectives within the time and budget, ensuring communication and coordination among the partners. The Public Health Institute of Sisak-Moslavina County leads preparation of training program that focuses on common surveillance and response to vector borne diseases and anthropozoonoses. The Institute of Public Health of Montenegro is in charge of communication strategy preparation and formulation of key messages for target groups and general public.

The project is co-financed by ERDF and IPA II funds of the European Union.

Disclaimer: This website has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of Public Health Institute of Republic Srpska and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.