site.btaUPDATED Bulgarian Red Cross Marks International Volunteer Day

The Bulgarian Red Cross marked International Volunteer Day, December 5, with a voluntary blood donation campaign, games, first aid demonstrations, and activities in disaster and crises, with different aspects of volunteer work, the BRC said on Tuesday.

The activities took place under the domes of the Largo in Sofia and the three adjacent halls.

There was an art workshop for the youngest visitors, and a meeting with the mountain rescuers and their dogs, some of whom were part of the team working in the field in Turkiye after the earthquakes in February 2023.

Deputy Health Minister Ilko Getov said that his Ministry is working in the direction of expanding emergency medical assistance by air with mountain search and rescue." For next year, a bigger budget subsidy is foreseen, and there is a separate earmark for the Mountain Rescue Service.

"It is not an easy choice to neglect oneself to serve others. Today is a day for taking account of the strength you have not spared," said the congratulatory address on behalf of Vice President Iliana Iotova.

Nikolay Nikolov, advisor to the Interior Minister, also congratulated the volunteers and assured them that they would continue to have the full support of the Interior Ministry. "Whatever we can do, we will do, so that you see your purpose understood by the people," he said and expressed hope that the work of the volunteers will be legally regulated.

The Bulgarian Red Cross, the Regional History Museum - Sofia, and the National Centre for Transfusion Haematology organized the event.