Context
INTERSOS is operational on the Sicilian territory with a mobile unit and a multidisciplinary team, with the objective of reaching all people in vulnerable conditions who live in remote contexts or in any case in a condition of social exclusion. Active both in Palermo, in neighbourhoods characterised by high levels of social marginality, and in the areas of informal settlements in other provinces, the mobile unit offers socio-sanitary assistance, more specifically medical screening, socio-legal assistance, health prevention, health promotion and orientation to services. Beneficiaries of the mobile clinic are: homeless people, people with substance addiction, migrants and refugees, sex workers, victims of trafficking, unaccompanied minors, seasonal workers exploited in agriculture, and people experiencing social and economic marginality.
Our intervention in 2023
In 2023, we reached 139 foreign individuals through mobile activities in Campobello and Ribera. Specifically, we conducted 129 medical visits, 22 socio-health orientations, and 5 referrals to other healthcare facilities. The outreach activity in Ballarò involved 50 people, mostly foreigners and individuals with substance dependencies.
Activities
Reach-Out is an integrated health care and prevention project for marginalised people. The project, co-financed by the European Commission and led by INTERSOS, involves several countries in the Mediterranean area, specifically Italy, Malta and Greece.
The general objective of the project is to improve the health conditions of disadvantaged population groups and migrants through prevention, early diagnosis and access to treatment for tuberculosis, HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, hepatitis B and C in Italy, Malta and Greece.
The project aims to make a concrete contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases through the provision of direct services and the dissemination of accessible information on prevention, treatment and care. The project aims to increase community awareness and access to basic health services, and at the same time to improve the capacity of institutions to respond to the health needs of people in need.
The project is implemented in Italy by INTERSOS, which is already active in Apulia and Sicily and is in partnership with the Ministry for Health – Government of Malta; PRAKSIS Civil Society Organisation; DIGIVIS; PIN Educational and Scientific Services for the University of Florence and Arco (Action Research for CO-development).
