site.btaHealth Minister Hinkov Meets UNICEF Representative to Bulgaria Christina de Bruin

During a meeting with UNICEF representative in Bulgaria Christina de Bruin in Sofia on Tuesday, Health Minister Hristo Hinkov listed the key areas on which he will focus his efforts in child health during his mandate, with an emphasis on prevention, prophylaxis and early diagnosis. Hinkov said that he intends to re-establish a Maternal and Child Health Unit in the Ministry of Health.

The success of the pilot project "European Child Guarantee", targeting children with disabilities and developmental difficulties and children from vulnerable families, in which Bulgaria participates together with 7 other European countries, was also mentioned during the meeting. It became clear that under the National Programme for Improving Maternal and Child Health 2021-2023, 31 Maternal and Child Health Advisory Centres have been opened in all districts of Bulgaria.

Both parties noted the importance of the topic in strengthening adolescent mental health, with UNICEF expressing a willingness to join as a member or observer on the National Mental Health Council.

Expanding immunization coverage among children was also a topic of discussion. The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with UNICEF, is implementing a nationally representative survey of parents of children aged 0-4 years, as well as a survey of general practitioners who have a higher than average proportion of children on their patient lists. The results show a decline in immunizations carried out from the compulsory calendar, and are due to be published by the Department of Health shortly.