MOMCHIL BAEV, DOCTOR OF MEDICINE: VACCINE PROPHYLACTICS IN BULGARIA IS A SHIP WITH TENS OF HOLES
In the eve of the first of June, representatives of Coalition HPV, professor PhD Radka Argirova – chairperson of the Bulgarian Association of Medical Virology and doctor Momchil Baev – founder of “Astra Forum” Foundation entered open letter in pupil’s backpack to the Ministry of Health and all the healthcare institutions while insisting on active policy for vaccine prophylactics in Bulgaria. The symbolic message is for better care after children’s health and starts the information campaign of the coalition “Protect their future!”.
“The global goal of the WHO for elimination of HPV in 2030 that causes cervical cancer and other cancer diseases in both sexes seems out of reach in our country unless urgent measures be undertaken for expanding immunization coverage in Bulgaria. This is possible only when setting short- term goals and steps that would promote vaccine prophylactics and engagement of the health authorities with the issue”, the letter goes on.
Doctor Momchil Baev – founder and chairperson of “Astra Forum” Foundation – believes vaccine prophylactics in Bulgaria looks like a ship with tens of holes. He pointed to statistics that only with one- fourth of the mandatory vaccines we have achieved optimal immunization coverage in our country. When it HPV-vaccination, being recommended, its implementation is the most tragic.
ABOUT THE MISSION
The mission of the expert, nongovernmental Coalition HPV is mostly prevention of the diseases related to human papilloma virus (HPV). So it requires from the Ministry of Health to accelerate the National program for primary cervical cancer prophylactics in the Republic of Bulgaria that is performed at only 1% to 3%.
“We would like to turn the focus of healthcare system towards prophylactics!“
With these words, the virologist professor Radka Argirova opened the first Academy for health journalists of Coalition HPV. Additionally, Coalition HPV informed that every stakeholder could find authentic, true and verified information on the topic at the newly created website https://hpvcoalition.bg. According to professor Argirova’s words, human papilloma virus (HPV) causes cancer in both sexes – of the cervix, of anus, of penis, of vulva, of the oropharyngeal area. Even in the case of patients with lung cancer we could find cancerogenic HPV types.
The creation of HPV vaccine is a revolutionary achievement because this vaccine in practice is prevention of several types of cancer. The HPV vaccine is with established safety profile whereas it consists of virus-like particles and there is no virus DNA.
Professor PhD Radka Argirova, who is the chairperson of the Bulgarian Association of Medical Virology highlighted the issue with the default under the National program for early cervical cancer prophylactics. We have only 1% to 3% vaccination coverage of the targeted group (girls aged 9 to 14), whereas in other countries the population is motivated and girls as well as boys aged from 9 to 19 get vaccinated in order to do with the HPV-related diseases.
Coalition HPV calls for changes in the short term that would ensure the achievement of annual goals concerning the immunization coverage within the target group (girls aged 9 to 14): 15% in the first year; 25% – in the second year; 35% – in the third year. According to the Coalition experts the set goals could be achieved if regularly tracked whereas we announce the achieved results and foresee incentives for the providers of health care. One of the opportunities is equalization of payment for administering mandatory and recommended vaccines since this is essential for public health.
Coalition HPV insists on starting national awareness campaign among the target groups for prevention of the HPV-related diseases of the Ministry of Health, for campaigns of the regional health inspectorates and/or campaigns for youth awareness in schools together with the Ministry of Education.
The positive example of Romania in which thanks to the proactive government policy in just three months’ time 100 000 HPV-vaccines have been administered was highlighted by associate professor PhD Mihail Okoliyski who manages the WHO office in Bulgaria. “We strongly rely on health and sexual education in the Bulgarian school that is set as Reform 6 in the Recovery and Sustainable Development Plan. This education was supposed to be introduced last year yet unfortunately it would not be fact in the next school year”, associate professor Okoliyski explained.
“In 30-days’ term we expect from you to arrange meeting with representatives of the Coalition in order to discuss the urgent changes suggested by us, as well as arrangement of meetings every quarter with your team in order to track the progress and communicate the achieved results”, coalition HPV writes down in its letter.
