MÉDECINS DU MONDE

Serbia
Infant mortality
> 15‰
Life expectancy at birth
> 72.2
Real GDP / inhabitant ($)
> 2,293 (figure for Yugoslavia 2000)
Population benefiting
> Direct: 506
> Indirect: 1 500
Staff
> Local: 11
> Expatriate: 1
Coordinators
> Project : P. Beauverie
> Field : C. Debaulieu
> HQ : F.-D. Buquet
Source(s) of funding
> MAE, MdM
2004 Budget
> 279,258 euros
Source: World Health Report
2004, WHO
On 27 June 2004, the Serbs finally elected their president, Boris Tadic, from the
Reformist Party. However, the country is still politically unstable, divided between
partisans in favour of opening up to Europe and nationalists such as Prime Minister
Vojislav Kostunica. Although living conditions have improved, in particular with a rise
in salaries in several sectors, 15% of the population still lives in great poverty.
Harm reduction
Belgrade
Activities: This pilot harm reduction programme was
set up in Belgrade in late 2002. The aim of the programme is
to get the Serb government to recognise harm reduction as a
public health priority. The first stage of the project is a needle
exchange programme to try and reduce the risk of infection
from HIV or hepatitis amongst drug users.
MdM is leading in several complementary areas:
• information and prevention amongst the population affected,
especially in clubs;
• proximity work on the streets with a minibus;
• lobbying with pharmacists for the free sale of injecting equipment;
• opening a centre to provide consultations and advice, and to
distribute condoms and sterile injection equipment.
Progress bar at 31/12/2004
10/2003 10/2005
Progress bar >
Outlook
MdM’s withdrawal in autumn
2005 will allow the local
association, Veza, created
from the current team, to
take over. The programme
will therefore continue, with
the emphasis on training
sections. Other aims are
providing support for other
local associations working in
harm reduction, creating a
dynamic to work in the clubs
with the youngest people,
and setting up a methadone
programme in Belgrade.