Sofia, November 21, 2018
As usual for this time of year, at the Parliament took place the 12th annual national meeting of the health mediators. It was opened by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Health Commission Dr. Daniela Daritkova. The achievements and activities of the mediators during the last year were presented at four informational stands in the lobby of the Parliament. Vaccine prophylaxis, hygiene, family planning, maternal and chlid health, informational campaigns, educational initiatives, partnerships with different organizations, field work - just a fraction of the activities, in which the mediators are actively supporting health specialists and institutions in their work with vulnerable communities.
Very few initiatives have demonstrated such sustainability over time and transformed from an NGO project into state policy. NNHM exists for 11 years and through its work synergistically combines the effort of state, private and NGO sectors for improving the cooperation between general practitioners, health mediators and regional health inspectorates with the support of parliamentarians, government institutions, medical community and NGO sector.
Bulgaria is a country with the lowest prevalence of measles in comparison with other European countries mainly due to the efforts of the health mediators. And the new challenge that the Network started to deal with is related to hygiene and environmental protection in Roma neighborhoods.
The Deputy-Minister of Health Svetlana Yordanova as well as the other partners who joined the discussion defined the health mediators as a significant factor in the health system.
The National Network of Health Mediators NNHM is one of BFPA’s “brainchildren” in collaboration with our close partners from EMHP Foundation. The organization is strong, self-sustaining, nationally represented, actively working among vulnerable communities throughout the country for eleven years now. Over 230 mediators in 28 regions – this is the perspective for 2019. And during the meeting we talked about vaccine prophylaxis, family planning, hygiene, maternal and child health. We continue for the next two days, this time with all of over 200 members of the network – with an Annual general meeting and upgrading training. Because HEALTH IS BLISS!
