The only Orthodox church in the Burgas neighborhood “Meden Rudnik“ has launched an initiative to help people without health insurance. Starting this month, volunteer doctors will be providing free check-ups to those in need.
The idea is from Father Emilian from the “St. Nicholas the Wonderworker“ church and aims to draw attention to caring for others, bTV specifies.
“The Lord Jesus Christ tells us: “If you feed the hungry, if you clothe the naked, if you give the thirsty something to drink, and if you visit the sick or the prisoner - you have done it to Me“. We are a drop in the ocean, but with this we want to contribute, to draw attention to more people to provide assistance to those in need, not only during the holidays, but every day“, said Father Emilian Mihaylov.
The first examinations within the campaign are cardiological. Dr. Borche Nikolovski, who has been participating in similar initiatives for years free of charge, pointed out that the goal is “with some gesture to give back to society what we can and do best“ and to be “one step ahead of the complications of cardiovascular diseases“. In his words “the heart is the only organ that can speak and be heard“.
On the first day of the initiative, patients go through prayer, examination and health talk. “My heart hurts sometimes – now it doesn't. Everything is fine. There is no blood, maybe now just because of the worry“, said patient Oksana Rehovska.
Margarita Valkanova shared that she has not visited a doctor for about a year and thanked for the initiative, because there are people who cannot afford examinations. Father Emilian noted that people come to the temple “with all kinds of needs, all kinds of necessities“, most often with spiritual ones, but now it will also be able to respond to needs related to physical health.
According to Assoc. Prof. Lilyana Mircheva, a cardiologist, patients without health insurance are an everyday occurrence for doctors, including in emergency conditions such as acute heart attack, pulmonary edema or arrhythmia. “But good is free and we can give it“, she emphasized.
The temple is new, and the plans are to soon open a social dining room and permanent doctors' offices, including dental ones. In order for the initiative to reach more people, Father Emilian called on doctors from Burgas to join as volunteers.
Support is also needed for the equipment of the medical offices, which must function constantly in order for the temple to become a house of mercy.