Project presentation
A particularly stigmatised and isolated population, Romanian-speaking communities are overrepresented in informal settlements in the Île-de-France region. Poor housing conditions contribute to physical health issues (epidemic and chronic diseases) as well as psychological distress (low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, etc.). Women face a double form of discrimination, both as women and as Roma people, and rarely have access to services adapted to their needs, particularly in the health and medical fields. To address these challenges, Première Urgence Internationale (PUI) has been carrying out health mediation activities since 2012 in squats, informal settlements and hospitals in the Seine-Saint-Denis (93) and Val-de-Marne (94) departments.
PUI will expand its activities by adding a psychosocial support component, which is rarely offered by public and community organisations working in informal settlements, but which responds to needs identified by PUI’s Romanian-speaking health mediators. The project aims to improve women’s knowledge of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues, particularly around four key areas: sexual and infectious risks (prevention and screening methods), knowledge and understanding of their bodies, family planning, and pregnancy monitoring. To achieve this, collective awareness-raising sessions and workshops will be organised in a neutral location outside the informal settlement.
Through this psychosocial support, women become more independent in accessing healthcare services and their living conditions improve.
