Life Expectancy And Health In Kosovo’s Roma, Ashkali And Egyptian
Communities
Life Expectancy And Health In Kosovo’s Roma, Ashkali And Egyptian Communities
In 2013-2014, the Balkan Sunflowers Kosova (hereinafter BSFK) together with Solidar Suisse conducted an extensive desk research project on the health situation of the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in Kosovo.
This study was conducted as part of the broader multi-stakeholder project “KOSANA” which aims for establishment of an all-inclusive national health insurance system in Kosovo.
BSFK intend to speak for the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in the process of drafting and implementing the national health insurance system.
The findings indicate that the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities are more prone to life-limiting chronic illnesses than the rest of the Kosovo population. Our observations and case study data suggests especially high prevalence of rheumatism, respiratory problems, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The poor health situation of the three communities is perhaps best demonstrated by their low life expectancy.
Roma, Ashkali and Egyptians average life expectancy is 58.3 years, approximately 15 years less then their Albanian and Serbian neighbors. This discovery resulted in production of the documentary film LIVES https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEWIrR9xcpA which reveals the alarming health situation of the three communities in Kosovo
