Health meetings are low-threshold offers in the city districts – Munich

Health meetings are branches of the health department (GSR) and have a clear goal: to promote the health of socially disadvantaged people at risk of health and to have a preventive effect. Free of charge, low-threshold and close to home. There has been a meeting like this in the Hasenbergl since 1975, and it has been very well received. However, the GSR wants to set up and finance more such locations. There will still be health meetings in Riem and Freiham in 2023, while mobile offers are initially planned for Neuperlach and Moosach.

Teddy bear consultations are very popular with children: whether it’s a bear or a doll – a plaster or bandage often works wonders. Just like cuddling a lot.

(Photo: Daniel Koeberle/oh)

A small, white bear is lying on the stretcher in the bright surgery room on Wintersteinstrasse in Hasenbergl. His furry left arm is wrapped in a gauze bandage. And next to that for him is the special recipe for the teddy bear consultation: “Hold your arm and cuddle” is the prescription or a “stomach massage”https://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/.”We heal everything,” says Georgia Debo and smiles. She is a medical assistant at the health club Hasenbergl.

In May 2022, the Hasenbergl Health Center opened again – in newly renovated rooms. As soon as everything was finished, word quickly got around among families, mothers and children in the district that they could finally use all health-related offers again. The teddy bear consultation hour is just one offer for children. Because whether family counseling or midwife consultation, whether medical check-up or nutrition tips – the meeting point is an important pillar of the district work.

“And he relieves our doctors here in the district,” as Annette Gröger says. In times of a blatant shortage of nursing professionals and too few doctors in underserved neighborhoods, this is more important than ever. The coordinator of the health meetings in Munich speaks of just two pediatric practices in Hasenbergl, which could hardly offer more appointments. Because a doctor’s position is currently vacant, doctor Daniela Schober from Riem comes to Hasenbergl. She examines, advises and refers her patients to general practitioners. With the “strong & healthy” program, she is offering a completely new meeting place for children aged six to ten who are overweight. She wants to motivate people to exercise and eat healthily. Schober cannot issue recipes. “We don’t have permission for that here,” explains Gröger.

“Many people have never been to the doctor”

Schober measures blood pressure and blood sugar. “There are really a lot of people who walk around with blood pressure that is far too high,” she says, underscoring a statement by social worker Kathrin Hien, who has been working at the health club for a year. “Many people who come here have never been to the doctor.” Social problems, precarious situations, housing shortages. The topic of health “often falls under the table”.

An important offer is the midwifery practice, which is run by the Diakonie Hasenbergl in the health club. Proper breastfeeding, postpartum care. The two midwives at the club make many home visits. Since there are hardly any midwives in the area, the women are often unsettled, says midwife Jasmin Wehner. Breastfeeding takes time and patience. There are also two open consultation hours. “And then there’s a lot going on.” According to Wehner, mothers are far too often “discharged too early” with their newborns. Here, too, the health meeting is trying to close an important gap in health care.

Health care: Help in all emergencies: The family counseling service at the Hasenbergl Health Center will help

Help in all emergencies: The family counseling service in the Hasenbergl Health Center is there to help-

(Photo: Daniel Koeberle/oh)

The family is also the focus. There are mother-child groups and other groups with sports activities or painting and handicrafts with children. And there is help for all families who need encouragement. In the case of development concerns, psychological stress or private changes such as a separation.

Health care: During a visit to the newly renovated health club: City Council member Barbara Likus (SPD), Deputy Mayor Verena Dietl (SPD), coordinator Annette Gröger and the deputy health officer, Susanne Herrmann (from left).

During a visit to the newly renovated health club: City Council member Barbara Likus (SPD), Deputy Mayor Verena Dietl (SPD), coordinator Annette Gröger and Deputy Health Officer Susanne Herrmann (from left).

(Photo: Daniel Koeberle)

According to Annette Gröger, the needs of every health club are constantly being developed and adapted to the residential area. This is very important to reach as many people as possible. This applies to the offers as well as to the language challenges. “Many of those who come to us can’t articulate well and hardly speak any German. We always have to keep at it.” Flyers with offers from the health club are on the table. In many languages. Arabic, Turkish, soon also in Farsi. And health guides are currently being trained in a three-month training course. They are then to support other women in the district as multilingual, voluntary advisors.

1,000 health kiosks are to be built nationwide

The Federal Ministry of Health wants to expand such district-oriented care offers. 1000 so-called health kiosks are to be built nationwide. The costs for this are to be assumed primarily by statutory health insurance companies at 74.5 percent, private health insurance companies at 5.5 percent and the municipalities at 20 percent. Munich has already laid a large foundation with its health meetings.

In any case, there is great hope in the city of Munich and in the GSR that the new law on health kiosks will also make health insurance funds available for health meetings. Because what the places of health promotion are called “doesn’t matter in the end,” said the second mayor, Verena Dietl (SPD), during a visit to the Hasenbergl health club. The main thing is to further expand these important offers in medically underserved districts.

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