Community nurses in Romania – the eyes, ears and voice of people in need

17 October 2018

Primary health care is about helping people to live the healthiest lives possible and, when they need health care, providing the right care, at the right time, in their communities. It is not only fundamental in making universal health coverage a reality, but is also at the core of any well-functioning health system.

Many countries in the WHO European Region are taking steps to strengthen primary health care. Romania, for one, has begun prioritizing this approach, and since 2017 the community health centre network has been consolidated and the community medical assistance legislation improved. Following 2 community nurses, Cristina Gheban and Ionela Albota, during their busy working day in Cristești Village, Romania, shows us how primary health care can bring about healthier, happier lives.

WHO/Igor Vrabie

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Cristina and Ionela know every street and house in the communities they serve like the back of their hands. During their regular visits to households, Cristina and Ionela perform basic check-ups and give health advice to pensioners, pregnant women, mothers and families, as well as patients with chronic diseases and vulnerable people, like individuals without health insurance or families from the Roma community.

WHO/Igor Vrabie

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Villagers call the community nurses their guardian angels. No matter the weather conditions, Cristina and Ionela walk tens of kilometres every working day to help people in need. Aspasia Vasiliu, an 86-year-old grandmother with diabetes, lives alone. She walks with difficulty but insists on waiting at the gate of her garden to welcome the nurses. Cristina measures Aspasia’s blood pressure and blood sugar, and consults the treatment prescribed by the family doctor. “Ms Vasiliu, to stay healthy you must stop adding salt to your soup,” Cristina advises the elderly woman as she learns about her daily diet.

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Despite the regular visits from his 4 children, Gheorghe Cupălăun is dependent on the community nurses to help treat the varicose ulcers on his legs. Cristina knows every corner of the house and sits back as Gheorghe tells her about his recent 70th wedding anniversary celebrations.

WHO/Igor Vrabie

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Emanuela Ștefan, 23 years old, is already a mother of twins and is now expecting another baby. She tells Ionela how glad she is to have a home visit from the community nurse, as Ionela measures her blood pressure, palpates the abdomen and measures the abdominal circumference. “Tell me how your twin boys are eating and growing. And have they received all the necessary vaccinations?” Ionela asks the soon-to-be mother of 3.

WHO/Igor Vrabie

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Little Mariu-Constantin was born 5 weeks ago weighing only 2.6 kg. Ionela and Cristina examine and weigh the baby and are happy to tell the mother, Elena Prodan, that Mariu-Constantin is making good progress, as he has gained 1 kg. The community nurses also advise Elena on good breastfeeding practices and how to make her own diet healthier.

WHO/Igor Vrabie

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Viorica Chirilă lost her eyesight following a trauma and lived in the dark for 7 years, without any help. Cristina took immediate action when she discovered the conditions Viorica was living under. Cristina called the mayor of the village to ask for his help in getting Viorica to a consultation by a specialist. “The cataract surgery brought back a world of colour,” says Viorica now.

WHO/Igor Vrabie

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The nurses are an integral part of Cristești Village. “Our role is to support people in need, to refer them to the family doctor, to help them control existing diseases and prevent others. We are working at the grassroots,” says Cristina.

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