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CHANCE FOR LIFE “CHANCE FOR LIFE” VOLUNTEER PROJECT Year 2010 May, 2010 In March, 2010, in the city of Varna, we managed to hold an informal meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr. Boyko Borisov, at which the topical, yet unsolved, issue of the changes to be made to Labor Expert Medical Committee (LEMC)-related laws, was again brought about by the Chairperson of the Board of the Association of Women with Oncological Diseases and Adherents. THE VOICE OF THE CANCER PATIENTS WAS HEARD! Achieved was a successful completion of our project “CHANCE FOR LIFE”, by being provided an adequate solution, complying with the State policy on priority in the struggle with oncological diseases. Following a long period of waiting, we have already got an EFFECTIVE REGULATION WITH AMENDMENTS ENFORCED AS OF MAY 17, 2010. Changes related to the percent of the permanent disability of oncologically ill patients have been reflected by the new regulations on medical expert-opinion, Annex No. 1 to article 63, clause 1, published in the State Gazette, Issue No. 36 of 14, May, 2010. As of 17 May, 2010, all cancer patients, after the fifth year of their illness, shall be entitled to undergo LEMC examination, and provided no concomitant diseases have been diagnosed, they shall be acknowledge 50% disability. This fully complies with our demands and justifies all initiatives under the project of July 2007. We are convinced, that the changes and amendments to the regulation on cancer patients after their fifth year is of significant importance to thousands of our compatriots. Being acknowledged 50% disability and awarded sickness pension, they will be given a chance to live, feeling more secure, having greater confidence and a better quality of life. Year 2009 In mid-year 2009 and the beginning of 2010 we again contacted the institutions, this time sending them a STANDPOINT on the issue described in the “CHANCE FOR LIFE” Project, supported by the Bulgarian Cancer Association, Association of Women with Oncological Diseases and Adherents and the Confederation for Health Protection. Not only did we receive a substantial moral support, but also true and effective help on part of the CONFEDERATION FOR HEALTH PROTECTION – Sofia, on a national level, of which we are founder-members. They stood by us and accepted the issue as a cause of theirs. An extremely valuable support was received by the Deputy Chairperson of the National Agency of People with Disabilities, Sofia. Year 2008 On November 28 – 29, 2008 the members of the Board took part in a round table discussion in the Central Military Club, Sofia, the first item on the agenda being the occupational rehabilitation /disabilities/ of patients diagnosed with cancer. We continued maintaining letter-correspondence, expressing standpoints and arranging personal meetings and discussions with the Chair Person of the Board of the Association of Women with Oncological Diseases and Adherents – Varna, with MLSP, the Ministry of Health and NEMC – Sofia. As from the beginning of the year, until April, several meetings and discussions were held by the Chair Person of the Board of the Association of Women with Oncological Diseases and Adherents – Varna with an MP member of the Health Committee with the Parliament – Associate Professor Dr. Stanka Marincheva, an MP from the city of Varna. We acquainted the Chair Person of NA, as well as a Chair Person of the Parliamentary Health Committee with the personal correspondence and copies of subscriptions and accompanying letters. Year 2007 “CHANCE FOR LIFE” VOLUNTEER PROJECT October, 2007 On 11.10.2007 we initiated a National Meeting – a roundtable, dedicated to the World Month for Struggle with Breast Cancer, which was held in Princess Hotel, Sofia. Nearly 130 people took part in it – volunteers, involved in the organization of subscriptions and signature collection, the project managers, chairpersons and members of various patient organizations of cancer patients – the founder members of the BULGARIAN CANCER ASSOCIATION and the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN WITH ONCOLOGICAL DISEASES IN BULGARIA. 
 Guests to the meeting were representative of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the Ministry of Health and Members of the Parliament. The subscription, alphabetically arranged by city /containing in total 38500 signatures/ was officially handed over at the beginning of the meeting, as a token of launching the “CHANCE FOR LIFE” Project. 
 
 Guests of Honor at the event were the Mayor of Sofia, Mr. Boyko Borisov and the Vice-Mayor, Mrs. Yordanka Fandakova. Not only the Municipality of Sofia came to support us morally, but also sponsored the project, covering the accommodation and overheads of the participants, thus enabling about 130 cancer patients who took part in the meeting. Expenses on renting halls, decoration and catering were also covered by the municipality. We shall never forget their exceptional hospitality, which kindled the spark of our motivation and belief in successful come-off of our project. Our special thanks! 
 
 August and September, 2007 We prepared a subscription in support to the letter already sent and attracted volunteers for our cause. The subscription was sent on both - electronic and paper media to the volunteers to prepare it in different towns of the country. Electronic and print media gave publicity to our demand on the right of obtaining disability degree according to LEMC - regulation, after the fifth year. The first formal letter was given to the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, requiring amendments to LEMC-resolutions regarding cancer patients after the fifth year of the illness, in order to remain lifelong in group three of the disabled people with disability of 50% if in remission and without concomitant diseases. July 2007 The Association of Women with Oncological Diseases and Adherents – Varna, initiated “CHANCE FOR LIFE” Project, in July 2007. Underlying Aim: Convincing and motivating the institutions to introduce changes to the currently effective LEMC-regulation, regarding cancer patients, according to which we are denied disability acknowledgement through a LEMC-resolution and, respectively are refused receiving a sickness-pension. This means that after the fifth year, thousands of us, who have had cancer, remain without any financial support, without health insurance and funds for medications, and very often, without any funds for food. It is hardly a secret that apart from the cancer treatment, as a consequence of the prolonged and tedious treatment, frequently other health problems arise, for which no treatment possibilities are provided, if not health insured and unemployed, what the majority of the cancer patients are. Our motivation, as organizers, to set out and launch this volunteer project, is that we consider ourselves strong and tenacious people, who have succeeded in winning the struggle with such a sever disease, to survive it and scratch a living, day-in, day-out. Convinced in our righteousness, as well as that we deserve LEMC-resolution acknowledging our disability even after the fifth year, we decided to initiate and launch the “CHANCE FOR LIFE” Project and convince the institutions responsible to revise the currently effective regulation and introduce respective changes to it. We have taken it that it would be just another test for us, and with much patience, perseverance and belief we will succeed, the same way we have done with cancer even though it was difficult and whatever strains it took. We were clearly aware of the incredible amount of work that had to be done, but it won’t be such a hardship, given a chance as survivors of the disease, providing firm ground for our well-reasoned demand. Namely: The cancer has no expiry date for its existence in the human body. It causes permanent and irreparable damages, both physically and psychologically. The five-year term of disability is absolutely insufficient and inadequate to achieve full regeneration and working ability (at that, without accounting for cases, reaching up to 90% disability caused by deterioration of a limb condition following a removal of a lymph node and other concomitant diseases). This significantly limits the possibility of finding a job and commence working activities, thus 90% of us remain involuntary unemployed and without any income, whatsoever. Unfortunately, cancer strikes down not only elderly and retired people, but also young ones, the age of newly diseased decreasing dramatically. Many cancer patients do not have partners, children or parents to rely on. Left impecunious, they can’t even pay their health insurance, which means no possibility of carrying out the required prophylaxis during a period of remission. These serious problems often lead to re-emerging of the illness and have lethal consequences. |