This September, the AQH-supported health caravan “përSHËNDETje” hit the road, traveling from villages to city centers across Kosovo to bring health information and services directly to the people. With its bright tents, smiling volunteers, and a team of doctors ready to welcome passersby, the caravan became a bridge between citizens and preventive healthcare.
But beyond its lively setup, the caravan carries out a serious mission: raising awareness about non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma, silent conditions that remain among the leading causes of illness in Kosovo. By traveling directly into communities, the caravan reduced barriers of cost, distance, and awareness, while encouraging people to take small, preventive steps toward healthier living.
Over the course of the month, the caravan stopped in Peja, Klina, Istog, Fushë Kosova, Obiliq, Kaçanik, Prishtina, Malisheva, Gjilan, Gjakova, Rahovec and Elez Han. At each stop, citizens measured their blood pressure, blood sugar, and Body Mass Index, spoke with health professionals, and picked up practical advice on physical activity and healthy habits.
In just a few weeks, the caravan reached more than 1,900 people, from curious children to elderly citizens grateful for the chance to check their health without traveling far.
Stories from the Road
For many, the caravan offered a wake-up call.
“During the check-up, when my blood sugar came back 10.9, I realized something was wrong. Without the caravan, I would have ignored it. Now I will go to the doctor more often,” said Fatlind Kelmendi, 23, from Peja.
Others simply appreciated the chance to get advice in a welcoming environment, while local partners observed that people felt more at ease in the caravan tents:
“Health caravans are a direct bridge between medical services and citizens. This innovative way of providing preventive services is being very well received by citizens. Where many citizens express that in these tents they feel free, without fear of being checked by the doctor,” noted KOPF, the organization implementing the caravan in the Prishtina and Ferizaj regions. Meanwhile, Syri i Vizionit which is implementing the caravan in Peja and Prizren regions, add that “These initiatives are particularly valuable for people who hesitate or cannot afford to go to the doctor, as well as for those who lack basic information about the importance of physical activity or the consequences of alcohol and tobacco use. ”
Moreover, the NGO Mundësia, which is implementing the caravan in Peja, Gjakova and Gjilan regions, noted that “…through activities such as the health caravans, we have the opportunity to raise public awareness on the importance of maintaining one’s health.”
The caravans also became a training ground for the next generation of health professionals. Around 60 young doctors and medical students volunteered, supporting citizens while gaining valuable hands-on experience.
“Participating in activities like this is an invaluable opportunity for me as a student, not only to build practical communication skills with people, but also to learn from the activities we carry out. Every experience gives me a new perspective I would not have gained otherwise, which is why volunteering in the caravan is so important,” said Albrim Rudi, sixth-year general medicine student.
The caravan’s success relied on close collaboration with Main Family Medicine Centers (MFMCs) in each municipality.
“Today we carried out a caravan aimed at promoting health…The positive reflection of caravan is because also the objectives of MFMC are the prevention of diseases and the health education of citizens,” noted Afrim Krasniqi, Director of MFMC Malisheva.
Caravan Journey
The caravans were first launched in Kosovo in 2019. Since then, 117 caravans took place across Kosovo. The health education and health promotion activities through the years reached over 30,000 citizens, of which over 17,000 were women, 12,000 were men and 7,800 part of non-majority ethnic communities.
This year’s caravans are being implemented by three organizations: Syri i Vizionit, KOPF, and Mundësia, in collaboration with municipal MFMCs and with the support of AQH.