Jan 2024 | Guest article Peggy Heinz
Self-help as an essential pillar of the healthcare system
In this guest article, Peggy Heinz, deputy CEO of NAKOS, the National Contact and Information Centre for the Encouragement and Support of Self-Help Groups, explains the development and added value of self-help groups in the context of Long COVID and Post COVID in Germany. She also talks about the structures needed to support and empower the self-help groups.
© Peggy Heinz
Guest article Peggy Heinz
Peggy Heinz is deputy CEO of the National Contact and Information Centre for the Encouragement and Support of Self-Help Groups (NAKOS).
In the years 2022 and 2023, she managed the project “Hilfe nach COVID-19. Zugänge zur gesundheitlichen Selbsthilfe fördern” (Help after COVID-19. Promoting access to health-related self-help) (financed by the AOK-Bundesverband (Federal Association of the Local Health Insurance Funds)) and helped set up the coronavirus database at NAKOS.
NAKOS operates as a nationwide point of contact and pools information on collective self-help and self-help support. It publishes materials and expert information on different topics, independently and free of charge.