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Training, focused mainly on the study of access to health services of minorities from Pavlikeni, Veliko Tarnovo and Gorna Oryahovitsarural areas was conducted in two consecutive days from 19 to 20 of November 2012 in Manastira vacation village near Veliko Tarnovo.

During the meeting volunteers were acquainted with the health questionnaire, developed by the health team of  Center Amalipe. This is the second health survey, which will be held with the local population in the project villages. The first survey was conducted in the summer of 2012. It provides quantitative results. Therefore, focus groups with women aged 18 to 55 years were conductedin October 2012 in order to obtain qualitative indicators of the researched problem in the project villages. The following key issues emerged as a result of the first survey and focus groups: lack of medical services/ in the villages of Varbovka and Stambolovo there is a medical service onlyin the morning, so the population should seek medical help in the municipal of Pavlikeni, when needed. There is no Health Service in the village of Batak and there is a GPin Ledenik with no visiting hours. / Another problem in all the villages is the access to dental care. The access to specialists seems impossible. In the project villages the majority of women have not had gynecological check-ups for  more than  10 -15 years.

During the two-day meeting, activists discussed how local advocacy activities and campaigns have been conducted to date in their villages after the survey. Health lectures and discussions were performed by representatives of RHI, Center Amalipe and local authorities. Their goal is to increase health awareness of the local population, to raise the awareness of community access to various health programs. There have been a number of meetings with representatives of the RHI to search for opportunities to improve the health status of the population. The second survey will have to show whether there has been a change in the five main areas: access to outpatient care, access to emergency, access to hospital care, women's and child’s health.

Local activists worked hard during the day. With much vigor they re-created possible cases to work with the community.  They shared good practice, although not very successful, asked different questions and sought answers.

And the evening was filled with laughter, singing and dancing.