Across the country, July – August 2016
Teams of Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (BFPA) and National Network of Health Mediators (NNHM) actively worked during the summer months in different locations of the country. Joint activities of both organizations, in the frame of the project „Mission Possible”, aim to reduce health inequalities and to improve sexual and reproductive health of young people from vulnerable communities.
Maglizh, Rakitovo, Chukarka, Sotirya, Rozino, Hristo Danovo, Gradetz, Velingrad, Ihtiman, Peshtera, Rakitovo, Straldja, Kovachevtsi, Shivachevo and Blagoevgrad are the places where in the period May – September 2016 trainings, presentations, discussions and informational events on topics connected with prevention on sexual transmitted and other infections, different methods of contraception, specifics during puberty, early marriages, drug and other addictions, hygiene were implemented. In parallel medical teams by locations are doing examinations, counseling and testing on STIs.
For the period of the summer months – July–August – nearly 600 persons were taking part at informational events and discussions in different places and were gradually tested, examined and consulted for different STIs. Some of young people are referred for treatment. The activities on reaching and referring the people from marginalized communities are actively supported by the health mediators from the relevant municipalities.
The difficulties which the health mediators are facing in their work with the specific groups are connected with convincing some people on the importance to participate in the informational discussions or to be examined and tested for STIs. The main reason of people’s unwilling is their fear of unknown and unwillingness to hear bad news about their health. Distant ramshackle buildings, lack of clear water, sewerage, electricity and basic conditions, together with these: early drops out from school and as a follow up – lack of education are among the significant problems for people from these communities.
Teams of the two partnering organizations also toured some of the locations. Dr. Radosveta Stamenkova and Ventzislav Kirkov from BFPA went to Chukarka and Straldja and implemented two trainings together with the health mediators and medical teams. In Kovachevtzi prof. Ivajlo Turnev from NNHM have joined both of them examining and discussing; in Peshtera – Daniela Dikova joined. Dr. Krasimir Romanov from BFPA supported the trainings in Rozino, Shivachevo and Muglizh, Ognyan Kamenov went to Blagoevgrad, Velingrad and Rakitovo. Cveta Petkova visited the other locations on project – Sotiria and Gradetz. The biggest interest and most of discussions were provoked by the topics: ways of transmitting infections and preventing STIs, as well as drugs and other addictions.
Pictures from activities in project locations
The project "Mission possible - Better sexual and reproductive health for young people from vulnerable communities – ways of overcoming healthcare inequalities" is implemented by BFPA in partnership with NNHM. It is financed under the BG07 "Initiatives for Public Health" Programme of the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism 2009-2014. http://www.eeagrants.bg/bg/2009-2014/
