Sofia, October 1 2015
BFPA is starting work on two new projects, supported by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism (NFM) and the Ministry of Health (MoH). On Sept 30th at the MoH the deputy-health minister Dr. Adam Persenski presented the official documentation to the hospitals, municipalities and NGOs whose projects have been granted financing under the “Initiatives for Public Health” BG 07 Program of the NFM.
The Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (BFPA) is the leading partner in the project “Mission possible: Better sexual and reproductive health for young people from vulnerable communities – ways of overcoming healthcare inequalities” which is implemented in partnership with the National Network of Health Mediators (NNHM) in 14 populated areas in 13 municipalities of 8 regions.
The duration of the project is 8 months – September 2015 – April 2016
The targeted populated areas are Blagoevgrad, Chukarka (Aitos Municipality), Velingrad, Rakitovo, Peshtera, Rozino and Hristo Danovo (Karlovo Municipality), Gradetz (Kotel Municipality), Kaloyanovo and Sotirya (Sliven Municipality), Shivachevo (Tvurditza Municipality), Vakarel (Ihtiman Municipality), Kovachevtzi (Samokov Municipality), Muglizh, Straldzha.
They were chosen on the basis of researches, for example the data from the project “Elaboration of sets of measures for integration of the most vulnerable communities among the ethnic communities with a focus on Roma” (BG 051P001-6.2.11), financed under the OP HRD and administrated by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. Current data from the partners about the health status and trends in these communities in regards of sexual and reproductive health were used.
In the last years the partnership between BFPA and NNHM in the field of sexual and reproductive health is especially strong. As a result of this cooperation annually on average more than 1500 women from marginalized communities and with a low social status have an ensured access to modern contraceptives while another 5000 people have been referred, consulted and tested for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections of social significance.
The goal of the project is to improve the sexual and reproductive health of young people and to reduce social inequality. Its specific objectives include improved access to services for prevention of sexually transmitted infections and HIV, supporting family planning activities and increasing of the overall awareness on issues in the field of sexual and reproductive health and behavior modification.
In order to achieve the set goals and tasks the partners have planned activities in the following fields:
1) Organizing and implementing tests for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV directed mainly at the most 
vulnerable groups from the targeted populated areas. For the duration of these activities a minimum of 3000 people are expected to undergo voluntary counseling and testing for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, as well as at least 2400 for syphilis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Chlamydia and Gonorrhea.
2) Organizing and implementing activities in the field of family planning. These activities are expected to increase awareness and increase the demand for specific contraceptives, ensured by BFPA for free. The expectations are that at least 500 women from the most marginalized groups in the target populated areas will use such methods of contraception towards the end of the projected period.
3) Increasing the awareness of the target groups on matters, related to sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS, and to the concept of family planning. The work in this particular field is based on community impact, aimed at a behavioral modification towards a higher demand for sexual and reproductive health related services.
In the other new project BFPA is a partner of First Specialized Ob/Gyn Hospital for Active Treatment “St. Sofia”, which is the leading candidate. The project “Access to health services for pregnant women, young mothers and children up to 3 yrs old from groups at risk” is implemented in the period September 2015–April 2016 and its main goal is to contribute to improving the access and the quality of health services, as well as improving the health status of mothers and children from 0 to 3 yrs old from vulnerable groups and Roma population within Sofia Municipality.
This will be achieved by implementing the following activities:
The project will be implemented by the following activities:
- Creating 5 groups for mutual aid and information dissemination in Roma communities on the territory of Sofia Municipality
- Training for work in a multiethnic environment
- Implementation of informational campaigns within the target group on their health insurance rights and obligations as patients
- Health consultation services for pregnant women –- Health training – “School for parents”
- Supervision and consultations on raising a healthy child –- Medical and health related care and activities for pregnant women and children up to 3 yrs of age
- Screening within the target groups for genetic carriers of thalassaemia – Assessment of medico-social risk factors for the children’s health and development
We have months full of work ahead of us, during which we will be relying on the full potential of the organization’s team and volunteers.
The project "Mission possible - Better sexual and reproductive health for young people from vulnerable communities – ways of overcoming healthcare inequalities" is financed under the BG07 "Initiatives for Public Health" Programme of the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 http://www.eeagrants.bg/
This publication is created with financial support from the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism 2009-2014. The entire responsibility for the contents of the document is of BFPA and under no circumstances can be assumed that this document presents official opinion of the Programme Operator of the BG07 "Initiatives for Public Health" Programme or European Economic Area Financial Mechanism.
