Health mediators from Class of 2019 – team-spirited and motivated

Within the framework of the educational program the mediators were introduced to the regulatory base and the healthcare system in Bulgaria, the rights and obligations of the patient, and also received information about important socially significant diseases (treatment, prophylaxis and prevention). Special focus  of the educational sessions were also vaccine-preventable diseases, early child development, prevention and counteracting of trafficking, maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health, family planning, field work. This year’s group demonstrated good knowledge, strong team spirit and a serious motivation.
In 2019 with a state allocated budget, in Bulgaria there are a total of 245 working health mediators with the 29 new ones. They support different health programs and projects for reduction and prophylaxis of infectious diseases and STIs, reducing the levels of child mortality with a main focus on vulnerable Roma groups. They support the efforts the Regional Health Inspectorates, general practitioners and municipalities in implemented by them healthcare campaigns. Collaboration between health mediators and all health institutions is key in view of the increasing cases of measles in Europe and the registered cases in Bulgaria during the last months. The newly trained mediators were off to a flying start – like Minka Donkova (on the photo) who organized the local Roma community in her home town of Karlovo to clean the neighborhood and the adjacent gully from the litter that had accumulated during the winter. Best of luck!