Zaechar – Pirot, March 20-21, 2019
On March 20th and 21st 2019 the health mediators from Montana participated in working meetings with their colleagues in Zaichar and Pirot. The meetings are organized by BFPA and take place within the final phase of the ZOV (HEA) programme (Health and Education for All), supported by the Bulgarian – Swiss Cooperation Programme. Besides the members of the National Network of Health Mediators (NNHM) from Montana, in the study trip were included health specialists working with vulnerable communities in the field, representatives of the Regional Health Inspectorate and of the local municipality. Their colleagues were expecting them in Serbia: representatives of local authorities, local NGOs in Zaichar and Pirot, health specialists, volunteers from the vulnerable local communities.
The key topics on which Bulgarian and Serbian colleagues worked together were exchange of ideas, presenting good practices related to improving the access to health services, education and social services for marginalized groups. The health mediators from Montana were selected to share their experience due to the good results they achieved in their work on the ZOV Programme.
NNHM is among the partners of Montana Municipality in the “Health” component of the project. The project goals are focused on health prevention, prophylaxis and creating a better access to health services for marginalized communities with a focus on Roma. Special attention is being paid to family planning and maternal and child healthcare.
The ZOV Programme concludes its work in 2019 but the activities will be sustained and upgraded under a project of BFPA whose experts are consultants of the ZOV Programme in all its ongoing. BFPA’s new project is supported by the “Merck for Mothers” programme which will run until 2021 in Bulgaria, Serbia and Romania, and Sofia Yambol, Montana, Belgrade, Zaichar and Pirot are a part of the project locations. The Serbian project partner is SRH Srbija Association who helped in the bilateral meetings organizing. In May hopefully the Serbian colleagues will return the visit and go to Sofia and Montana. They will get familiar on the spot with the work in the Ogosta and Kosharnik neighbourhoods as well as the village of Gabrovnitza, where health education activities and medical examinations are being held in the created Health consultation centers. We are certain this is just one step of a long-term collaboration.
