Reach Out: integrated health assistance in Italy, Malta, and Greece

The REACH OUT initiative aims to improve the health and well-being of migrants at Europe’s southern border. Recently, INTERSOS and project partners gathered in Athens to discuss shared goals and tackle future challenges.

On November 7 and 8, Reach Out held its annual coordination meeting in Athens. Funded by the European Commission, this project provides integrated healthcare and preventive services for marginalized communities in Italy, Malta, and Greece.

Representatives from all partner organizations attended, including INTERSOS (the project lead), Praksis, Pin Polo Universitario Città di Prato – ARCO, Digivis, the Maltese Ministry of Health, and Jurgita Kaminskaite, Project Advisor from the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) and EU4Health project coordinator.

Through detailed reports, participants highlighted Reach Out’s achievements across the three countries, sharing milestones reached, challenges encountered in daily fieldwork, and strategies for the future protection of the most vulnerable communities in project areas.

The core goal of Reach Out is to improve health outcomes for disadvantaged migrant groups at Europe’s southern border through prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, the project faces various challenges, including economic, social, and cultural barriers, difficulties in communicating healthcare rights to vulnerable populations, and procedural obstacles tied to the administrative regulations in each country.

This two-day gathering provided participants with a valuable opportunity to share insights and best practices from healthcare and social service teams across the region, showcasing approaches that have positively impacted the project’s efforts. Thematic discussions centered on operational and logistical challenges encountered during implementation and the evolving needs of vulnerable communities. Field visits also encouraged constructive dialogue, shaping a shared vision for the project’s continued development and strengthening in 2025.