The intervention has increased the capacity of Macedonians to practise best-evidence perinatal medicine and improve outcomes. Sustainability is predicted by the "train the teachers" approach, with concurrent strengthening of the infrastructure and organisational framework.

The aim of this paper is to assess the outcome and postinjury impact, analysing the data collected with the community-based injury survey conducted in Republic of Macedonia in 2008. WHO standard methodology has been applied on a nationally representative sample of 1200 households. The survey has recorded injury incidence rate of 5710/100 000 and mortality of 40/100 000. 75.2% of the reported injuries had not resulted in any physical disability. Most frequent physical disability is walk with a limp or difficulty using hand or arm; few reported inability to use hand or arm, loss of vision or inability to chew food. 46.4% of the victims were affected performing usual activities. 21.4% were not able to return to normal activities. Some of respondents stated losing their employment due to the injury. 31.2% reported losing days of work/school, on average 45 working days had been lost. There were also loss of work/school working days of a household member (7 days on average). 33.6% of injured reported decline in household income, while only one respondent stated a household member loss of employment due to taking care for the victim. This indicates that injuries and violence are serious public health problem that should be seriously considered for policy interventions. Prevention of injury and violence is set as on one of the priorities in the Health Strategy of the Republic of Macedonia 2008–2020.

Development of a strategy in public health (PH) education is crucial for Macedonia in providing modern education for actual PH practice. Establishing a School of Public Health (SPH) is vital for a country in a health transition with high rates of preventable diseases. The main strategic goals in modern PH education in Macedonia should be capacity building, improving the competencies of PH professionals, serving communities, participating in the policy, and partnership development. Expectations were expressed through two key points: strengthening institutional capacity in the area of PH and institutional development of SPH. The organizational structure of the new Center of Public Health is based on existing human resources and infrastructure. Medical Faculty initiated development of a postgraduate PH teaching program [Master of Public Health (MPH)] provided by the newly formed Center of Public Health within the Medical Faculty Skopje. The Macedonian MPH program has been developed with modular-type courses as a part-time teaching program in four semesters within a 2-year period. This program is designed to cover all the basics of PH sciences and practice, including basic and elective courses, workshops, research forum. and master's thesis with a credit transfer system in PH education. The main assets for SPH development are knowledge and skills of the constantly improving teaching staff. Successful preliminary evaluation of the Macedonian SPH project, being qualified "as a model for SPH development," led to full Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER) membership. Sustainability of this program will require continuing support although a remarkable beginning has been achieved. The next strategic goal is continuing development of SPH with fiscal and academic autonomy and preparing formal ASPHER Public Health Education European Review (PEER). This SPH recognized the main communicating message of the New Public Health: "Moving with the time." New Public Health is determined by a dual approach: to be modern, and to grow and to build the tradition in PH education. The development of Macedonian SPH represents a new orientation toward science, philosophy, culture, and life and promotes new spirit and movement in PH in this region of Europe.

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