NEWS

PREVENT project presented at the Health Commission to the 44th National Assembly
20.02.2020
Prevent project was presented at a regular meeting of the Health Commission to the 44th National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria, which was held on February 20, 2020 as part of the National Information Campaign "Together for Better Pulmonary Health". The event was attended by members of the parliament, members of the commission and Diana Hadzhiangelova, chairwoman of ABBA - Association of Bulgarians suffering from asthma, allergies and COPD, Associate Prof. Khodzhev, chairman of the Bulgarian Association for Pulmonary Diseases (BAPD) and Associate Prof. Dr. Maria Staevska, MD Head of the Department of Respiratory Allergy and Atopy at Alexandrovska University Hospital, who presented statistics on chronic diseases.
The Annual Program for the Participation of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Decision-Making Process of the European Union in 2020, No. 002-00-3, submitted by the Council of Ministers on 27.01.2020 was also discussed at the regular meeting; Amending Bill to the Structure Development Act, No. 054-01-6, submitted by MP Spas Panchev on 23.01.2020 - first vote; Discussion on the "Social and Health Significance of Pulmonary Diseases", on the proposal of the "Association of Bulgarians with Asthma"; Discussion on the disease "Atopic dermatitis - severe form", on the proposal of "National Alliance of People with Rare Illnesses”.

Diana Hadzhiangelova, the chairwoman of ABBA, presented the campaign "Social and Health Significance of Pulmonary Diseases" and its goals and also outlined the activities carried out so far under the PREVENT project as well as the forthcoming ones. Associate Prof. Vladimir Hodzhev, Chairman of the Bulgarian Association for Pulmonary Diseases presented statistics from the White Paper on Pulmonary Health in Europe, risk factors for lung diseases, successes and problems associated with specific groups of lung diseases. Associate Prof. Maria Staevska, chairwoman of the Bulgarian Society with Allergies, introduced the World Health Organization statistics on the health weight of allergic diseases, as well as a short video focusing on bronchial asthma, the most common chronic disease during the childhood.

PROJECT’S OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the project entitled "Exercise as a mean to prevent and recover the chronic diseases", are the following:
  • Informing citizens on the benefits of exercise in health, preventing and recuperating chronic diseases and guiding them for safe and effective participation in organized exercise programs
  • To raise the awareness of health professionals to encourage patients to participate in systematic exercise and to update them with the most up-to-date research data on appropriate forms of exercise, depending on the specificity of the disease.
  • The training of doctors, health professionals (nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists) and exercise professionals for the safe and effective use of the exercise as a means of preventing and restoring chronic diseases.
  • Incitement, facilitation and guidance of public, municipal and private bodies for the organization of safe and effective exercise programs for the prevention and rehabilitation of chronic diseases throughout the country.
  • The networking of public, municipal and private providers offering health services and exercise services.

TARGET GROUPS
The specific program is addressed to:
1) patients with chronic diseases,
2) normal - healthy people,
3) doctors,
4) health professionals (physiotherapists, nurses, etc.)
5) Trainers, Physical educators
6) public health foundations (hospitals, centers, regional clinics, etc.)
7) municipal health service institutions and exercise services,
8) private and other health services (medical clubs, rehabilitation centers) and exercise services (gyms, clubs).

The main activities of the project are:
1. Collect target population data
The specific work package will be: a. recording the demographic and social characteristics of people with chronic diseases that are also the specific target groups of the project; and b. registration of public, municipal and private health service providers and exercise services (health centers, regional clinics, municipal clinics, associations, trainers, etc.). Recording of Athletic Programs implemented.

2. Assessment of attitudes towards exercise, quality of life and physical activity of people with hypertension and cardiovascular diseases
The aim of these WP is to conduct studies on attitudes, quality of life and physical activity levels of population groups with chronic diseases.

3. Creation of 4 manuals
A manual to promote safe and effective exercise to improve health and prevent
A manual to promote the safe and effective exercise of patients with heart disease to improve their health and quality of life.
A manual to promote the safe and effective exercise of hypertensive patients to improve their health and quality of life.
A manual to promote the safe and effective exercise of obesity patients to improve their health and quality of life.

4. Creating a web portal with educational, scientific and educational material on exercise and health.
The aim is the creation of a web portal with information, scientific and educational material on the exercise, health and quality of life of the normal - healthy population of the partner countries as well as patients with chronic diseases.

5. Training of doctors, health professionals (nurses, physiotherapists, etc.) and exercise professionals.
Implementation of pilots training of doctors, health professionals and exersize professionals. They will implement the pilot Interventional exercise programs in different population groups.

6. Networking of public institutions (health centers, regional clinics, medical associations, etc.), municipal (municipal, community, etc.) and private bodies (gyms, rehabilitation centers etc.) offering health services and exercise services.

7. Exercise days.
Inform and raise awareness of the importance of exercise in preventing and recuperating chronic diseases, improving health and quality of life.

8. Interventional exercise programs in the normal population and in people with chronic conditions
Pilot training programs in different population groups and assessment of their effectiveness. Exercise programs are planned to be implemented by specialized scientists. The implementation of these programs will take place in health centers and closed athletic exercise areas (physiological - healthy population)

PREVENT Project is co-funded by Erasmus+ Sport Programme of the European Union.