Menstrual hygiene, access to health services, family planning, and various forms of contraception were among the topics addressed during the project that EcoKos Women (EKW) has been implementing for several months in the municipality of Obiliq. Challenges in accessing health services and receiving proper care remain evident in some municipalities. Additionally, awareness among women and girls about the services available at the Main Family Medicine Center (MFMC) and the Family Medicine Center (FMC) is still limited.

According to Shpresa Gosalci from EcoKos Women, their awareness of these challenges stems from an earlier project developed with the support of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) in 2021.

For EcoKos, it is important to implement initiatives that address real, feasible community needs and contribute to improving livelihoods.

Obiliq is known for high levels of air pollution, which also contaminates the soil and water, leading to various health disorders among residents. To better understand these impacts and raise awareness among women about their right to access health services, EcoKos has developed a project focused on women and girls.

 “Obiliq is recognized as one of the most polluted municipalities, and this pollution causes various problems for its citizens. However, it is also among the municipalities that provide the most support to women,” says Shpresa Gosalci from EKW.

EcoKos recognizes the importance of acknowledging that women are often the most affected by such pollution.

The women participating in the lectures were from various communities within the municipality, except for the Serbian community, as these women receive services from clinics operating under the Serbian system. The beneficiaries of the project are women and girls from the municipality of Obiliq, focusing on raising awareness about quality health care, reproductive health, menstrual hygiene management, family planning, and the importance of reporting violations of these rights.

According to the project’s progress report, 34 women from the municipality of Obiliq have benefited during this four-month period. The women participating in the meetings gained insights into their rights regarding health services, including mechanisms for reporting violations, as well as reproductive health care, menstrual hygiene management, and family planning.  

An important aspect of women’s self-awareness is the ability to request clear and understandable explanations from health staff. Shpresa from EKW shares a specific case: “One of the women expressed, ‘I don’t understand when they talk to me using medical terms.’ She acknowledged that the next time she visits, she will ask for explanations in a way that she can understand, as it is her right.”

It is crucial for women to be aware of their right to request detailed and simplified communication to better understand their health status.

During these months, the research methodology and the questionnaire for surveying women were developed. Additionally, guides for focus groups and interviews with institutional representatives were created.  

The municipality of Obiliq has a Main Family Medicine Center (MFMC) in Obiliq/Obilić, a Family Medicine Center (FMC) in Milloshevë/ Miloševo, and clinics in the villages of Breznicë/Breznica, Sibovc/ Sibovac, Babin most, and Plemetin, where both Albanians and members of the Serbian community work. The staff from the Serbian community in these clinics operate under the Serbian system and do not report complaints from patients seeking services there. 

“In addition to raising awareness, we have documented six violations, and we will document four more violations as well as a case of assisted reporting for complaints related to access to health services,” said Shpresa Gosalci from EKW.

The project has yielded positive results regarding women’s awareness of their rights, and there have been notable reactions in this area. Mrs. Shpresa shared with the Women’s Network a specific case where a violation was reported, and EcoKos assisted in the reporting and subsequent action taken.

“The doctor in question, for whom the complaint was made, received a disciplinary measure, and she was very pleased; at the same time, she served as an example for other women to act in the same way if they experience a violation”.

The participating women were very satisfied with the lectures and reported receiving a wealth of information, particularly on contraceptives and family planning.

From the previous project in Fushë-Kosovo, the EcoKos initiative focused primarily on menstrual hygiene and raising awareness about reproductive health.

The large number of unregistered residents in Fushë-Kosovo/Kosovo Polje complicates the operations and efficiency of the Main Family Medicine Center (MFMC) in this municipality. Additionally, the shortage of gynecologists at the Family Medicine Center (FMC), as outlined in the current Administrative Instruction, worsens the situation for Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian women. Without sufficient finances, they must go to the
University Clinical Center of Kosovo (UCCK), where the queues are often very long, making timely visits difficult.

Through research, the project has highlighted the challenges and opportunities for facilitating access to health care for Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian women. Presenting the findings at a round table with participants from various fields and influential decision-makers has raised awareness of the problems and challenges these women face in accessing quality health care. Additionally, the advocacy process benefits the citizens of the Municipality of Fushë-Kosovo, including lower secondary school girls and their families.

During the activity at “Selman Riza” Elementary School, lectures were conducted by a psychologist engaged through the project and a doctor from EcoKos Women. These lectures addressed important aspects of menstrual hygiene management, including emotional and physical changes during this period, as well as the significance of maintaining personal hygiene. “Through this activity, we successfully raised awareness among girls about adequate health care and the prevention of reproductive organ diseases in girls aged 12 to 15,” said Shpresa Gosalci.

Another topic discussed was advocacy to ensure that primary schools are supplied with sanitary pads, allowing girls easy access during their menstrual periods.

One significant problem encountered has been the large absence of girls from school when they begin their menstrual cycle, as they do not feel safe attending. Families with minimal or no income struggle to provide sanitary pads.

“Another problem is the bullying that occurs if a pad is found in a girl’s bag, whether from boys or within the classroom,” says Shpresa Gosalci.

The project has raised awareness about the access of Roma, Ashkali, and Egyptian women to health services, the violations they face, and the importance of reporting these violations.

This initiative is supported by the Kosovo Women’s Fund with a grant of €9,915.98, financed by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA).