New Primary Healthcare Center in support to community at peri-urban area in Tirana

We inaugurated the new Primary Healthcare Center in Allias, Tirana, in support of 10,000 inhabitants, out of whom 7500 adults and 2500 children age 0-14. Construction and equipping of this center as well as capacity building of the center medical staff is part of the project "Access to health and nutrition services for children and women in the peri-urban areas of Tirana (administrative unit no. 4)" supported and implemented by Save the Children in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Municipality of Tirana.

Through this intervention, we aim to contribute to a sustainable and equitable use of services and practices of primary health care, to improve access and quality of provision of health services to communities in need and to support community in gaining knowledge on the rights of patients and the complaining system.

Key participants in this ceremony were Mr. Ilir Beqaj, Minister of Health, Mr. Arber Mazniku, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Tirana, Z.Omer Guven, CEO of Save the Children Switzerland, Ms. Anila Meco, Director of Save the Children in Albania and Ms. Rudina Rama, Director of the Health Care Center 'zone and members of the local community. “This center offers an opportunity for all the community, ranging from pregnant mothers, children and to elderly people to have health services nearby their living area and its conditions are much better than other primary healthcare centers located in the city center.

This is one of the projects of Save the Children, implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Health that has in focus mother and child healthcare in Albania. We highly acknowledge the importance of this intervention in support to prevention, treatment and information for mother and child health-highlighted Minister of Health.

“Key success to this project is the good cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Municipality of Tirana to implement this new model of how quality health services can be provided to the most deprived children in peri-urban Tirana.

Save the Children Switzerland strongly supports the Government of Albania’s vision to achieve universal health coverage and provide healthcare for all Albanian residents. Our long standing cooperation with the Swiss Development Agency as well as a generous donation from a Swiss Foundation have allowed us to add additional value to your existing health structure. The inauguration of this health care centre today is a symbol for this strong and close collaboration” highlighted Mr. Omer Guven, CEO , Save the Children Switzerland during his speech.

 “Ensuring equal access and increase the quality of services, especially for communities in need, is a necessity and remains an immediate need to be improved. No one should face financial barriers, age, and gender, geographic or cultural in obtaining health care services. More attention and special care should be given to mothers, babies and children in the use of services and primary health care practices, and improve the quality of preventive, curative and informative services" highlighted Country Director for Save the Children in Albania during her speech.