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Organized by the Association Center for Development and Education Prilep, an international conference dedicated to the topic "Social and Health Services in the Community" was held in Prilep on May 28, 2025.
The conference brought together professionals, service providers, and policymakers to share insights and achievements in home care and healthcare services. It opened a dialogue and enabled the exchange of good practices, research, and innovations in the field of social and health services at home, highlighting the role of institutions, the non-governmental sector, professionals, as well as families and communities in building a system focused on the dignity, needs, and rights of service users.
In her welcome speech, Marina Tosheska, President of the Association Center for Development and Education Prilep, called for united action, building support networks, solidarity, and active care to create a global society where “No one should be left alone.” This is the foundation of true social justice.
The Mayor of the City of Prilep – Mr. Borce Jovcheski emphasized the role of municipalities in the creation and delivery of social services, and the openness of the Municipality of Prilep to partnership and mutual support in order to create the social and health changes that citizens deserve.
The Director of the Intermunicipal Center for Social Work Prilep – Mr. Zoran Malkoski, in his welcome address, emphasized the role of this institution in supporting social service providers, as well as assisting service users and their families in dealing with the complexity of social and healthcare protection, managing psychosocial problems, and accessing community resources.
The Project Coordinator of the TRANSACT project – Mr. Stefan Niedermoser from the Republic of Austria, which provides a range of social and health services including home visits by a nurse, physiotherapist, psychologist, and/or social worker, also gave a speech. Mr. Niedermoser emphasized that the community is not just a service user – it is part of the solution, and that applying a bottom-up approach creates successful social and health services at home.
The Republic of Austria is one of the best countries in Europe, and beyond, from the perspective of its social system and available social services for various categories of citizens at social risk. Mr. Harald Fuger – Attaché at the Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care, and Consumer Protection presented the social services system in the Republic of Austria. For many years, the Republic of Austria has been providing support to our institutions and civil society organizations in developing a social model according to Austrian approaches that will encompass rights and services responding to the real needs of our citizens and contribute to a better quality of life and inclusive and just communities.
During the conference, three panel discussions were held. One panel discussion focused on the efforts of municipalities in the development of social services, featuring presentations by Mr. Kristian Frank – Mayor of Hernbaumgarten Municipality, Ms. Doris Stadlinger – Mayor of Schwandstadt Municipality, Austria, Mr. Zoran Hegedić – former Mayor of Breznički Hum Municipality, Croatia, and Mr. Borce Jovcheski – Mayor of Prilep Municipality.
The second panel discussion focused on the challenges and benefits of the social service Home Help and Care. The panelists Draganа Josifoska and Julijana Kukovska – coordinators of the social service, Hari Veleski – representative from the Intermunicipal Center for Social Work Prilep and case manager and service coordinator, and Aldina Delević – caregiver, provided a brief overview of the Home Help and Care service, the collaboration between the service provider and the social work center, and shared stories from the delivery of the Home Help and Care service, emphasizing the importance of this service for the users, their families, and the local community.
The final panel discussion covered the topic of Health Services in the Community. Through this panel, the panelists Ms. Sajmira Ajderaj – representative of Health for All from the Republic of Albania, Sara Bogdanoska – psychologist within the TRANSACT project, Olivera Ruseska – nurse within the TRANSACT project, and Ivana Makešoska – social worker at home, attempted to answer pressing questions that concern us, aiming to identify problems and opportunities to jointly contribute to a more efficient and fair health system in our communities.
Through the discussions, questions were raised, good examples were highlighted, and new opportunities for the development and improvement of social and health services in the community were identified. This conference serves as a reminder that no matter where we are, we all share the same goal – access to opportunities and services that guarantee inclusiveness, dignity, and equality for every individual in the community and society.
