Retired women and men of Albanian, Bosnian and Turkish ethnicity from the Municipality of Prishtina, including villages; Barlievë, Busi, Bërnica and Shkabaj, benefited free medical tests for diabetes.

91 participants, respectively 62 women and 29 men, receive the service provided by the Association of Retired Women “Vita-Jeta”, a member organization of the Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN).

Moreover, Dr. Valbona Bajraktari, a specialist in diabetes pathology, in the framework of their initiative “Diabetes in the Elderly”, held information session with women over the age of 35 to inform them about the prevention, symptoms and development of diabetes. Participants got informed on good management of diabetes. During medical examinations, there have been cases where participants have been identified with this disease, not knowing beforehand.

“According to recent studies, diabetes is a risk factor for, and contributes to, the severity and mortality of patients with COVID-19. Therefore, it is very important to prevent and properly treat diabetic patients affected by the COVID-19 virus”, said Bajraktari.

In three rural areas of Prishtina, Vita Jeta provided free health services by measuring participants’ glycaemia and cholesterol, as well as informing them about their health status. The importance of food, hygiene as well as chronic forms of this disease were also part of the joint discussions.

Participants expressed gratitude that Vita Jeta provided them with free health services, especially in times of pandemic. This is because the ambulances were closed and there were no doctors in those areas for a long period.

Vita Jeta carried out these activities in the period February-September 2020, and in order not to endanger the participants, this meeting was organized according to the recommendations of The National Institute of Public Health of Kosova.

This initiative is supported by the Kosovo Women’s Fund (KWF), funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and co-financed by UN Women.