Sofia, January 14, 2022
The Ministry of Health (MoH) in partnership with the National Network of Health Mediators (NNHM) is implementing a predefined project BGLD-1.006-0001 "Healthcare for All" within the Program "Local Development, Poverty Reduction and Improved Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups", supported by the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area 2014-2021. The expert team of BFPA has helped and supported the initiative since its preliminary phase and will continue to work actively for its implementation. The project budget is 1,109,718 Euro and the implementation period from 01.11 .2021 to 30.04.2024
The main goal of the project is to improve communication, resources and coordination in the implementation of health policies at local level for marginalized communities by optimizing the health mediation system. Here are the main activities:
• Improving the mechanism for implementation of national health policies at the local level.
• Building a model for working in crisis situations such as Covid-19 in relation to socially excluded and isolated communities.
• Improving the system for adequate dissemination of health information.
• Building service models and approaches to address existing deficits.
• Expanding the activities of health mediators to hospitals, emergency services and other health structures.
A two-pronged approach will be applied in the implementation of the project activities: on the one hand, improving the health services system for vulnerable groups at local level and the relationship between health policies at local and national level, on the other - working with vulnerable groups to build proactive role in their own health. The activities will be aimed at:
• Providing low-threshold services and raising awareness through community participation;
• Developing and strengthening the capacity of stakeholders - local government, Regional Health Inspectorates, doctors, hospitals, mediators, etc., as implementers of national health policies for mothers and children;
• Optimizing the use of health mediation, incl. medical institutions for hospital care.
Expected results: The implementation of the project "Health for All" will address the need to improve health status and more effective implementation of national health policies among marginalized communities living in extreme poverty and social exclusion. The project will develop an analysis of the main problems before the implementation of the national policy on health mediation. BFPA considers as especially important that the project will support the policies of the Ministry of Health to improve access to health care for vulnerable groups in regard to maternal and child health, including family planning and to sexually transmitted infections, with a focus on syphilis and congenital syphilis.
