Free Medical Access for Teenage Mothers, Bulgaria

This time round we’ll share with you the story of Toni – one of the many patients of the health center that we continue to support with your invaluable help. Hers is a story of getting the right kind of support when you need it – and the network of people who care that each of us needs to be able to realize our potential and flourish.

Toni, who turned 18 at the beginning of this year, is the mother of the two beautiful children you see in the photo. In May 2022 she gave birth to her second child. Toni visits the community center in the Filipovtsi neighborhood every day and has established a warm relationship with the social worker on site.

Toni is a patient of Dr. Popnikolov who is the obstetrician gynecologist working in the health center. Toni recently had a IUD placed at her request, to prevent unwanted pregnancies. In addition to the obstetric and gynecological consultations, Toni and her children benefit from the pediatric consultations provided in the center.

Toni was eager to share and talk with us about her experience of parenthood and the difficulties she encounters. Due to her lack of education and social isolation and segregation, she finds it difficult to speak Bulgarian, but makes an effort to use the language in her meetings with the team and during parenting skills groups.

Despite the barriers that language creates, Toni’s resourcefulness helps her with everyday tasks – when she has to do something, she does it well – she finds the place she needs to go, asks the necessary questions and manages to do what she planned. However, she does face difficulties with communication regarding health care. This is why currently members of the community center team are actively involved with supporting her during doctor-patient communication. This ensures that the check-ups are truly beneficial – with the advice of Dr. Popnikolov and the help of the center’s team, she is confident that she’s taking good care of herself and her children.

We are grateful to you for supporting our work with young moms like Toni – that they can rely on the existence of the medical center makes a big difference to them and their families. In the last four months, 127 pregnant women and babies were examined in the center. Thank you for helping us make that happen!