Serbia: Mobile Medical Clinic
Providing Holistic Medical Care: Q1 2018
May 30, 2018
Marjan al Mahamid, N’Deane Helajzen, Žarko Stanić, Dr. Andrijana Ljubojević, Dr. Dragana Marković, Dr. Daniel Pejković, Dr. Jovana Milić, Dr. Nataša Benović, Dr. Milica Radonjić, and Dr. Mina Novaković
Summary of Activities
Since May 2015, Serbia has been facing an unprecedented refugee crisis. In 2015 and in the first quarter of 2016, more than 920,000 refugees and migrants, primarily from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq, passed through Serbia on their way to Central Europe. As a result of the closure of the Western Balkans migration route, the number of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants stranded in Serbia now stands at 3,900.
A combination of factors has made the provision of support to refugees and asylum seekers more challenging during this reporting period:
- There is a shortage of basic supplies in government-administered facilities.
- Refugees and migrants are exposed to exploitation, violence, and human trafficking, often as a result of smuggling and violent pushbacks at the borders.
- The unprecedented scale of refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers in Serbia is placing increased stress on an already overburdened health system.
- There is an urgent need for professional psychosocial and mental health support within the centers; the number of refugees and migrants showing symptoms of depression, severe anxiety disorders, suicidal thoughts, etc. is increasing.
- Referral mechanisms for psychiatric illnesses and gender-based violence responses require strengthening to improve protection services for patients and survivors.
- Language barriers remain a challenge.
- Integration mechanisms within the host community are largely absent.
During this quarter, RMF Serbia’s team continued to provide holistic medical care and support to persons of concern during the reporting period through services at Adaševci Transit Center and Obrenovac Transit Centre as well as escorting and referral services.

Results &
ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Adaševci Transit Center
Treating Men, Women, and Children
Primary healthcare services are provided through the Medical Clinic in Adadševci Transit Centre. Medications to treat scabies and body lice continue to be procured, donated to, and used for ongoing camp screening and treatment procedures.
During this reporting period, RMF Serbia provided 2,892 medical consultations to men, women, and children refugees and migrants in Adaševci Transit Centre in Western Serbia between January 1 and February 18, 2018.

Obrenovac Transit Centre
Immediate Access to Specialists
RMF provides primary healthcare services from the Obrenovac Transit Center mobile medical clinic from 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM, 7 days a week. Emergency patients who arrive at the clinic are able to immediately access referrals to secondary and tertiary care facilities.
During this reporting period, RMF Serbia provided 2,407 health consultations to men, women, and children refugees and migrants in Belgrade and Obrenovac. This average of 200 patients per week is consistent with the weekly patient numbers at the clinic in Adaševci.

Provision of Support to the State
Monthly Meetings Facilitated
RMF Serbia continued to support the Institute of Public Health (IPH) of Serbia, the Ministry of Health, relevant health institutions, and partner NGOs in the coordination of healthcare provision.
Monthly meetings were also facilitated with the Ministry of Health to discuss the progress of the mobile dental clinic and ongoing security issues at Obrenovac Transit Centre.

Background
& Objectives
Background
RMF provides primary healthcare and emergency triage services at our Obrenovac Transit Centre mobile medical clinic from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM, 5 days a week. The work is implemented by a medical team consisting of 1 to 2 doctors, 1 cultural mediator/translator, and 2 drivers. This ensures that emergency cases arriving at the clinic can immediately access referrals to secondary and tertiary care facilities. By providing primary healthcare services, referrals, and cultural mediation, RMF improves the wellbeing of refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers in Belgrade and Obrenovac.
Objectives
- Improve the health status and overall wellbeing of refugees in Obrenovac Reception and Transit Centre and greater Belgrade.
- Provide medical and translation services to refugees and act as cultural mediators for them at public institutions in Serbia.
- Refer, transport, and escort refugees and asylum seekers to secondary and tertiary medical care facilities in Belgrade.

Numbers
Served
Health Consultations
Adaševci Transit Center
2,892 men, women, and children
Obrenovac Transit Centre
2,407 men, women, and children


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Country Page: Serbia
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