12.04.2011Center Amalipe held training for experts from the Ministry of health concerning the Roma integration in the context of the health reform
Center Amalipe held training for experts from the Ministry of Health (MH) on 31st of March in the building of the Ministry. The theme of the training was "Trends in health reform and the Roma integration”. The event was initiated by the Center Amalipe supported by the Deputy Minister of Health Desislava Dimitrova and it was aimed at employees in various departments related to the health of the Roma community. Among the other participants were representatives of Roma NGOs in the health sector. The main objective of the training was to familiarize MH experts with the specifics of work in the Roma community and how health care programs and reforms to be designed so as to contribute to the healthcare integration of Roma.
Deyan Kolev, Chairman of Center Amalipe presented the basic facts about the Roma people, their origin and culture. Mr. Kolev spoke about specifics of the Roma groups in terms of attitudes towards healthcare and access of Roma to health care system. That topic provoked interest of the employees of MH and they discovered many interesting facts that they did not know and would help them better understand what is happening with the community.
Health Strategy for disadvantaged persons belonging to ethnic minorities was another focus of the training. Detailed presentation of the Strategy was introduced by Dr. Masha Gavrailova from Public Health Directorate at the Ministry.
Another issue presented as a positive practice was that of the health mediators, whichwas introduced by Tsveta Petkova and Esref Rustem. What is expected this year is the number of the existing 105 health mediators working to municipalities to be increased by 25 and so the total number will reach 130.The new ones will be stationed in municipalities where no mediators are available.
Next major theme of the training was the program that supports Roma students studying in medical majorspresented by Momchil Baev (Center Amalipe) and Anelia Ilieva, a participant in the Program, which is unique by itsmulti-dimensional method. However, the funding provided will cover the academic 2011 - 2012, and then the program needs institutional support to continue to exist and create a new generation of health professionals working in the community.
Other successful practices for healthcare integration of the Roma community were presented by Dr. Stefan Panayotov “Health of Roma” Foundation – Sliven and Gancho Iliev," World Without Borders "- Stara Zagora. They presented their successful experience in workingon the programs of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis on which number of other Roma organizations work.
The meeting ended with a positive feedback by the expertsfrom the Ministry of Health, who expressed the idea that the trainingshould be continued for at least another two days.
