Sofia, April 1, 2018
Just before the beginning of the astronomic spring, on March 19, 2018 the new scholar year for the newest generation of Roma Health Mediators was officially opened in the University Hospital “Tsaritsa Joanna”. The training is held for a seventh consecutive year from the National Network of Health Mediators (NNHM) in partnership with the Public Health Faculty of Sofia Medical University. The Class of 2018 consists of 34 Health Mediators, selected based on a concourse with strict procedure and rules, conducted in the municipalities of Sandanski, Pertich, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Elena, Zlataritsa, Hayredin, Kjustendil,Lukovit, Radomir, Iskar, Karlovo, Plovdiv, Zavet, Nova Zagora, Sofia, Botevgrad, Maglizh, Radnevo, Popovo, Dimitrovgrad, Svilengrad, Hikola Kozlevo, Varbitza, Toundja, Boliarovo, Kurdzhali and Montana. The intensive training going with not a single free day in which experts from the BFPA team take part from the very beginning of the program, ended with an exam, successfully passed by all future mediators on March 31.
On April 1 Professor Ivaylo Turnev, member of the Management Board of the NNHM and President of EMHPF handed the certificates for a professional qualification “Health Mediator” to the trainees that passed successfully the entire horarium and the final exam. The new mediators received greetings and wishes for a successful professional development from the Professor and from other supporters of the program: Antoaneta Eftimova – President of the Management board of the NNHM, Katya Kirilova, health mediator in the municipality of Blagoevgrad, Dr. Radosveta Stamenkova, Diliana Dilkova and Ivanka Abadjieva from the training team= The emotions were on a high scale from both sides. Next step: during the first months after starting their work, the new Health Mediators will be visited by their experienced and successful colleagues and will be assisted in their first steps in their relations with institutions and also in their filed work. BFPA will include also the new mediators in the projects, trainings and field initiatives of the Association.
In 2018, supported by the national state budget in Bulgaria there will be 230 Health Mediators working in 117 municipalities in 27 regions national-wide.
Good luck, dear new partners and friends!