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Between 17th and 19th November 2014 representatives of the National Network of Health Mediators participated in the second work meeting from the Regional Pilot Programme “Health Mediation among Roma Community” within the project “EQUI HEALTH - Fostering Health Provision for Migrants, the Roma and Other Vulnerable Groups” implemented by the International Organisation for Migration. The Network was presented by Diliana Dilkova (member of the Management Board of NNHM), Sabire Ramadan (member of the Management Bord of NNHM and Health mediator in Septemvri Municipality), Katya Kirilova and Antoaneta Eftimova (Health mediators in Blagoevgrad Municipality). Coordinators of intercultural and health mediation, (health) mediatoras, representatives of different institutions from Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Romania, Slovakia, Macedonia and Croatia also shared their experience.

On 17th and 18th October 2014 the National Meeting “Initiative for Health and Vaccination” was held in Sofia. Within the initiative reprsentatives of government institutions, non-governmental organisations and private sector discussed the improvement of access to health care services for vulnerable communities. The project is implemented by the National Council for Cooperation on Ethnic and Integration Issues at the Council of Ministers (NCCEII) together with the Ministry of Health. Project partners include Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, Ministry of Education and Science, Ministy of Finance, Association “National Network of Health Mediators”, National Association of General Practitioners in Bulgaria, Bulgarian Association for Vaccine prophylaxis, patient organisations. The event is supported by GlaxoSmithKline.

In August 2014 the Health mediator from Sliven Municipality Natasha Todorova went for five days exchange visit in Stockholm. The invitation came from Mr Patrick Sedelrev, Secretary of the Commission for Fighting Human Traficking - Sweden and and Mrs Radosveta Stamenkova (Executive Director of Bulgarian Family Planning Association) with kind request by our Swedish colleagues to present the work of Bulgarian Health mediators. One representative from Bulgarian police also took part in the visit. Truly interesting were the meetings with local authorities in Gavle and the site-visits to villages where Bulgarian citizens from Roma origin are living.

Macedonian Assosiation H.E.R.A, member of International Planned Parenthood Federation, organised two-day training for Health mediators in Macedonia. The training was held on 11th and 12th September in Skopie, Macedonia. Peter Tsvetanov (Chairman of National Network of Health Mediators-Bulgaria) and Radosveta Stamenkova (Executive Director of Bulgarian Family Planning Association) were invited by H.E.R.A. as trainers to share Bulgarian experience in estabilishment and management of a working non-governmental organisation.

Hello, dear readers! We, the Health mediators who went to Varna to help after the flood already came back to our homes safe and sound. I would like to tell you what we did there together - Asen from Shumen, Milio from Straldja, Natasha and Sasho from Sliven, Rusi from Nova Zagora, Gergana from Karnobat, Eleonora from Zlataritsa, Valentin from Tervel and Kina from Yambol. We were in Varna city six days – from 23 to 28 June 2014.

On 4 July, 2014 in Sofia in front of the Courthouse, representatives from National Network of Health Mediators - prof. Ivaylo Tournev, Ognyan Kamenov and Health mediator Velcho Mihalev (Aytos Municipality) took part in protest against the multiple acts of hatred in Bulgarian society and the inactivity of Prosecution Office.

Campaign of the National Network of Health Mediators ROMA MATRIX Mutual Action Targeting Racism, Intolerance and Xenophobia Who could tell us who are the good people? The tragedy in Varna, Asparuhovo neighborhood, happened on 19 June 2014 - due to heavy rainfall tidial wave swept away houses, cars, people, animals, took victims...

On 23 June (Monday) volunteers - Health mediators from 8 municipalitites went to Varna to assist their colleagues in dealing with the consequences of the disaster. Initiator of the mission was National Network of Health Mediators and coordinator of the volunteers was Velcho Mihalev - HM from Aytos. First volunteers were Gergana Demireva (Karnobat), Asen Asenov (Shumen), Milio Dobrev (Straldzha), Valentin Chakarov (Tervel), Rusi Bozhidarov (Nova Zagora), Sasho Yordanov and Natasha Todorova (Sliven).

04.04.2014 - Brussels, Belgium On 4 april 2014 in Brussels was held European Roma Summit to rewiew the progress made on the integration of Roma in the EU member countries. The meeting was attended by about 500 representatives from EU institutions, national governments and parliaments, mayors, cicil society organizations (including Roma organizations), as well as local and regional authorities.