On 5 February 2014, the Project No.2012.EEZ/PP/1/MEC/043/035 “Promoting social inclusion of men who have sex with men (MSM) by improving access and quality of health care services” opening meeting along with the press conference was held at the Ministry of Health.
The meeting was attended by 24 participants. Among them were representatives of partner organizations: the Ministry of Health, the Alliance “Mozaika”, and the Association “Gay and Lesbian Health Norway”, as well as other partner organizations and representatives of NGOs. Mass media followed the meeting course.
The aim of the Project is to extend consultations and testing access, and to improve the quality of health care services for the Project target group in order to reduce the spread of HIV and other infectious diseases in society.
Jana Feldmane, representative of the Ministry of Health, remarked in her speech to the meeting participants the importance of that Project in realizing public health policy, reducing further spread of infectious diseases, as well as promoting social inclusion of the Project target group. Inga Upmace, project manager, presented the Project activities which are planned for further Project implementation period up to June 2015. Project activities are strictly based on conclusion and evidence derived from the European internet-based research EMIS which was presented by Anda Karnite, RSU assistant professor and project researcher. Project topicality is reasoned by the epidemiological data and publications of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Norwegian partner organization introduced their wide experience of working with MSM, which will be used in implementation of the Project.
The Project is being implemented within the framework of the EEA Financial Mechanism for 2009 – 2014 Grants programme “NGO Fund” sub-programme “NGO Project Measure”. The Project is supervised by the Social Integration Fund and it is co-financed by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
