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Description
The predefined project addresses the needs for improving health status and more effective implementation of national health policies in places where there are marginalized communities living in poverty and social exclusion. The health status of marginalized groups is characterized by higher morbidity, lower life expectancy and higher mortality, especially in children. Therefore, this project includes activities in the field of maternal and child health, family planning, prevention of sexually transmitted infections, especially syphilis and congenital syphilis. The implementation of the project will support the measures in the National Program for Improving Maternal and Child Health 2021-2030 and the National Program for Prevention and Control of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections, ensuring closer coordination of the national with local authorities. The Covid-19 pandemic confirmed the need for active and effective participation at the local level in the implementation of health policies targeted at vulnerable groups. Poor health status, difficulties in complying with prevention measures, population mobility, prejudices against vaccination make marginalized communities more vulnerable to the virus and increase the risk of epidemics in the existing "poverty pockets". In the implementation of the project, the Ministry of Health in partnership with the Association "National Network of Health Mediators", which unites, trains, coordinates and monitors the activities of health mediators throughout the country, will test mechanisms for better communication between groups at risk and health institutions. local level both for prevention and treatment, as well as for collecting up-to-date data on the real state of health status and the effectiveness of the implementation of health policies on the ground. This will create conditions for facilitating access to health care for marginalized communities and access to health services for all Bulgarian citizens.