Correlation Network II

Summary

The overall aim of Correlation II is to tackle health inequalities in Europe and to improve prevention, care and treatment services, targeting blood-borne infectious diseases (BBID), in particular Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS among vulnerable and high risk populations (e.g. drug users and young people at risk).

The project will:

• review models of good practice
• implement field testing’s
• develop guidance documents
• develop and implement training modules
• support and strengthen capacities of health service providers
• influence policy agendas by formulating evidence based policy recommendations in regard to HIV and AIDS prevention, care and treatment

EATG is work package leader “WP8 – Policy-HIV/AIDS – review and policy recommendations”. EATG will identify obstacles and barriers to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care, document good practice examples, formulate evidence based policy recommendations and promote effective health policies, by providing evidence based information (collected and summarised in the various work packages) and organising policy debates between policy makers and health practitioners. WP8 will also contribute to the development of policy recommendations and support the various core work packages by doing so.

Why

The health situation in Europe is still characterized by considerable health inequalities. Not all parts of society have the opportunity to access existing health services, and tailored services for specific groups are often non-existent. The prevalence of BBID is high in vulnerable populations. The project will substantially contribute to filling this gap and contributes to the European Health Programme by collecting, developing and disseminating information regarding BBID. A European-wide network of experts will serve as an important tool to achieve the project’s objectives.

What

• Provide and facilitate a platform of exchange and mutual support for service providers and peer educators all over Europe (network function)
• Collect, review and analyse existing evidence and information from national level and transporting them to the European level (documentation centre, standardisation)
• Address local or national health constraints (e.g. Health incidence, HIV treatment compliance, address various high risk communities) and compare them with responses in other settings
• Organise joint actions for different stakeholders (expert groups)
• Organise European seminars and events to increase capacities among health service providers
• Link different European networks and initiatives and transnational activities
• Bridge the gap between policy and practice on European level, national and practical experiences that will be transported to a policy level (address the policy aspects of the proposed methods, e.g. evidence for implementation of an innovative method)
• Take into account EU policies regarding the public health policies and the health inequalities agenda
• Involve EFTA countries and establish partnerships with organisation from neighbour countries, assure transnational cooperation
• Cooperate with other European networks and bodies such as WHO Europe, EMCDDA or Pampidou Group adding value to the project results
• Review and analyse existing evidence and models of good practice with standardised criteria and by providing evaluated new tools and strategies on European level, contribute to the provision of comparable data, information and standardisation.

Contact

EATG Secretariat - Nicole Heine

www.correlation-net.org