On 30.08.2024, the first information meeting under the project "Identification of unmet needs of stroke survivors and/or diagnosed with aphasia on the territory of Sofia Municipality" was held at the Club of the Pensioner and the Disabled Person "Longevity". The project is implemented with the financial support of Sofia Municipality - Europe Program 2024 by the Association for Stroke and Aphasia (ASA) in partnership with: Sofia Municipality Bankya Region, 78.Secondary School "Hristo Smirnenski" and Lozana EAD
Despite the heavy rain, the club gathered stroke survivals and experts who got acquainted with the project and its goals. The presented information material intended for people with stroke and/or aphasia was highly appreciated.
Ing. Dorina Dobreva, Founder and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of ASA, welcomed the attendees and expressed her gratitude personally to the Director of the Europe Program, Mrs. Zarkina. She introduced the audience to the activities of the Association for Stroke and Aphasia. She drew attention to the opportunities to support each other, as patients, individuals, organizations and most of all, as people. Because empathy is a very powerful tool for change, which in Bulgaria we still fail to use on such a large scale as in other European countries.
Dr. Georgi Georgiev, Deputy Chairman of the ASA and project manager, presented its conceptual basis, prerequisites for development and essence. He emphasized the role of the project as a small milestone in terms of the way of creating a municipal policy aimed at real needs – solving problems.
In the course of the discussion on the unmet needs of the target group, a common opinion was formed about the lack of sufficient information of patients and their relatives about treatment, rehabilitation, social and psychological support, available therapies, etc. It was noted that there are various rehabilitation centers in the country that provide their services at a high price, but there are also those that offer affordable prices for most Bulgarians outside the rehabilitation care funded by the NHIF.
We express special gratitude to our hosts from the Municipality of Bankya Region for the partnership and friendship.