Sofia, December 16, 2019
Besides the time of year for festivities, December is a month of books. On the evening of December 16th in the packed Comedy Club below the Satirical Theatre, Prof. Radka Argiriva presented her book “A pseudonym with a tint of diversion – A documentary book about Prof. Radka Argirova. The history of AIDS in Bulgaria”. Yulia Piskuliyska has recreated in writing the cornerstone moments of the life and career of Bulgaria’s best virologist. Another great lady - the famous actress Tatyana Lolova – was the main agent in the presentation of the book.
The documentary novel follows the life of Prof. Argirova, and besides her personal story focuses on the cornerstone moments of her scientific career, full of triumph and peril, friendships and obstacles. All is important, but her constant scientific interest is HIV – she is the person who founded a laboratory for researching the virus that causes ADIS – the plague of the 20th century, she brought to Bulgaria the first samples for research, and the intelligence service took an interest in her work – just like in the movies.
Prof. Argirova recently celebrated her 75th birthday, has the energy of a 25 year old and besides working at Tokuda/Acibadem hospital, is among the most active volunteers and friends of BFPA, and that is the reason all of us attended her book premiere. The history of virology can be romantic, the work on the HIV virus may resemble a spy thriller and the life of a professor of virology can be a ready-made script and film. We are grateful to Radka that she didn’t miss any of our visits in the prisons, that she always expands our knowledge and horizons and manages to explain even the most complicated things in a simple and friendly way. We all love her and expect her 80th birthday to be held at Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture so that there is room for all her fans – from 18 to 88 years old.