Integrated health and social services closer to children and families

The National forum “Integrated health and social services closer to children and families” introduced the vision of a joint platform that brings together health and social services.

UNICEF Representative, Minister of Health and Social Protection and Mayor of Lezha (the venue of the Forum) attended this event.

More than 120 representatives from central and local health and social service institutions participated in the event including : Health Insurance Fund, State Social Services, Institute of Public Health, National Agency for Quality Assurance in Health Institutions, National Operator of Health Services, National Center for Child Development, Therapy and Rehabilitation,  University of Medicine, Faculty of Social Sciences, Orders of Doctors,  Nurses,  Social Workers, and Psychologists,  representatives from WHO and UNFPA, and the Swiss Embassy.

 Discussions were focused on the models of integrated health and social services having at the center the UPHV supported by UNICEF in close collaboration with Ministry of Health and Social Protection, and National Operator of Health Services. The results of UPHV were presented by representatives of both health and local government/social services in target regions while discussing positioning of UPHV in the bigger picture of health and social services strategic directions and national priorities.

The Universal Progressive Home Visiting ( UPHV) model supported by the UNICEF Office in Albania and implemented in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection ( MOHSP)  aims to strengthen  routine home visiting ( HV) for children in the frame of Primary Health Care (PHC), with a referral system linking children and families at risk with services between levels of health care, as well as with other sectors providing care from multidisciplinary teams and an intensified home visiting schedule. 

The UPHV model introduces the approach of integrated health and social services for families, prioritizing the development, and protection of the human capital, through high quality and standardized interventions and qualified health personnel. The UPHV model is rooted in key Albanian strategic documents including the Strategy for Primary Health Care, Service Guidelines and Protocols for antenatal care, postnatal care, mother and child nutrition, and child development approved by MOHSP, the Law 18/2017 on Child Rights and Child Protection, the Social Protection Strategy 2024-2030 and  the UPHV model framework developed by a team of international experts engaged by UNICEF Regional Office in Geneva.

This model contributes to the development of the model of Family Medicine Centers Promoted by MOHSP based on a strong PHC foundation, integrating health and social services, and reaching out to all population groups leaving no one behind.

Results of the intervention include:

7 Regions implementing UPHV

548 doctors and nurses participated in accredited professional development activities

82 Primary Health Centers involved

20,382 home visits conducted during 2023-2024

5620 families reached with home visits for children under 5

116 cases of children and families with multiple deprivations followed by multidisciplinary teams