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Description
Health without Borders Association and its Centre for Sexual Health Checkpoint Sofia have a long-standing experience in testing, consulting and preventing HIV, hepatitis and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among the most vulnerable communities such as the Roma, prostitutes, people living with HIV, LGBTI, drug users and migrants. We have good knowledge not only of the health-related difficulties faced by these people but also their social and civil challenges stemming from the lack of integrated services for minority groups in Bulgaria. Many of them are subject to multiple discrimination, while at the same time they are not aware of their rights and do not have the knowledge and experience to defend them. Over the last five months of life in the COVID-19 epidemic we have had a growing number of clients facing economic hardships and social isolation. Many of them, in particular people living with HIV, have difficulties accessing health services and their patients’ rights have been violated. The project aims at educating the members of vulnerable communities about their rights as citizens and patients of the healthcare system and offering them professional legal aid to consult and solve specific issues. The project will use information activities and legal consultations to raise their awareness of their human, civil and patient’s rights and reduce the cases of discrimination and denied access to health services. The project will first and foremost benefit people addicted to drugs, gay men and people living with HIV.