Over 150 non-government organizations are asking: “Will the government continue the process of deinstitutionalization in Bulgaria or will turn it into a hostage of old personnel and ideas?”
The Coalition “Childhood 2025” sent today a letter to Dr. Tanya Andreeva, Minister of Health and Hassan Ademov, Minister of Labour and Social Policy, expressing its definite position on the outrageous appointment in the home for children in Sofia and insisting on its cancellation.
Dr. Margarita Dzhurelova has been appointed director of home for Medico-Social care for children “St. Ivan Rilski, a position which she took until 2011. We are worried that during her employment there were several serious incidents, involving children. In one case from 2003, a hand of a child has been amputated because it was tied to the bed for a long time, while in another one from 2011, a child with 80% burns and life-threatened didn’t receive medical care for several days.
Due to wide media and public reaction, the State Agency for Child Protection completed inspections and collected data for bad organization, lack of adequate supervision and children care in the home. Warnings have been sent to the Regional Prosecutor’s to initiate criminal proceeding against Dr. Dzhurelova and were made recommendations for her dismissal.
According to us such a compromising appointment is in conflict with the government’s undertaken engagements to continue the process of deinstitutionalization in the country. We are considering that the quoted incidents and carried out inspections prove that Dr, Dzhurelova doesn’t have the needed experience, qualification and personal and ethical qualities to continue home for children’s reformation and to ensure quality care for each child placed in it.
Coalition “Childhood 2025” is named to the Vision of deinstitutionalization of children in Bulgaria and unites 16 leading civil society organizations and networks, representing more than 150 NGOs and individuals from across the country who has been working on the process of deinstitutionalization since 2000. Our goal is sustainability of the process of deinstitutionalization, regardless the political changes, with chief priority – to develop individual community care for each child and to ensure guarantees for their rights respect.
Photo: sxc.hu/chokingxl
