The Minister of Labor and Social Policy Mr. Bisser Petkov, the President of the BRC Acad. Hristo Grigorov and representatives of the Ministry of Health officially announced the launch of a new joint project “Innovative Community Care Models in Favour of People with Chronic Diseases and Permanent Disabilities” at an opening press conference held at the BRC Headquarters on 7^th June 2019.

The BRC Chairman Hristo Grigorov emphasized that the organization has traditionally helped older people and this project is further proof of our attitude to the demographic problem and the difficulties faced by the elderly, especially in small settlements.

“I congratulate the BRC for always looking for innovative methods to help vulnerable people. The remote care in the new project will build on what has been achieved so far by the Home Care Centers in Vratsa region, extending to two other areas – Vidin and Montana. The project fully fits into the policy of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy for older people and people with disabilities”, Minister Petkov said during the press conference.

Mrs. Tzvetana Guerdjikova, Head of the Program Operator at the Ministry of Education and Science, stressed that this is the first project to start in Bulgaria with the support of the EEA Financial Mechanism 2014-2021.

Dr. Nadezhda Todorovska, Deputy Director General of the BRC, presented the project and emphasized that the activities envisaged are intended to test the new service, which is expected to be further reflected in the normative acts of the country with the purpose of wider application.

The mayors of the municipalities of Byala Slatina, Belogradchik, Krivodol and Vidin strongly supported its implementation and thanked for the opportunity older people from these municipalities to be beneficiaries of the project. Mrs. Petya Dolapchieva – Deputy Mayor of Vratsa, emphasized that it is a great responsibility for them to build the first call center in the country of this type in their city.