Living in Bulgaria

World renowned surgeons from the US and Spain performed unique surgeries on Bulgarian children with severe spinal deformities under a programme financed by the US company Osteotech, Inc. and the Euro-Atlantic Transplant Alliance.

Two Bulgarian children were operated in Sofia by Dr. Stephen Mardjetko, MD from the Illinois Institute for Orthopedic Surgery, USA and Prof. Paco Sanchez from the La Pas University Hospital in Madrid, Spain.  The team utilised unique surgical technique and equipment, which was donated to the local hospital. A transplantation of bone tissue and electronic spinal cord monitoring was also performed during the surgery as part of the unique surgical procedure. The severe spinal deformities require surgical treatment, which is considered one of the most challenging surgeries in medicine. More than 3 percent of the pediatric population worldwide is suffering from severe spinal deformities, which makes this debilitating and life-threatening condition a socially significant healthcare problem in any country, including the prosperous industrialised nations.

These are only the first surgeries of a long-term surgical programme sponsored by Osteotech, Inc., an American publicly held company listed on NASDAQ and the Euro Atlantic Transplant Alliance (EATA), a local public non-profit foundation. The Boachie Programme, as it is referred to within the local professional circles, has been named after the world renowned surgeon Prof. Boachie from the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, founder of the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) and the leading orthopedic surgeon in the US. The Discovery Channel dedicated its documentary “Surgery Saved My Life” after Dr. Boachie.

The Boachie Programme is a part of Osteotech’s Corporate Citizenship Programme and is aimed at delivering quality surgical care to local children with severe spinal deformities. Such care can be provided by a relatively small number of highly experienced orthopedic surgeons, including Dr. Merdjetko, Dr. Sanchez, Dr. Boachie, Dr. Gupta and several others. The Programme was launched in 2007, when Dr. Roman Hitchev, Vice-president of Osteotech,Inc. and President of Tissue Bank Osteocentre Bulgaria, with the endorsement of the Minister of Health of Bulgaria invited Prof. Boachie and Prof. Sanchez to perform these surgeries in Bulgaria. In 2008 Dr. Hitchev signed a collaborative agreement with Tokuda Hospital in Sofia designating the hospital as a preferred site for the surgical programme. The first two surgeries took place in the Orthopedic Department of Tokuda Hospital headed by Dr. Jablanski.

The postoperative recovery of the children is going smoothly and they are expected to make a full recovery and to be able to lead a normal style of life.

1 million - the number of hotel beds currently available in the country, according to the State Tourism Agency. Is Bulgaria a budget destination, given all the five star hotels, the golf courses in development and the spa resorts? Some thoughts on the 2008 summer season in yesterday’s Dnevnik daily.
Ani

In addition to prices for public transportation going up to one lev per ticket on 1 July, price for electricity is going to be increased too. The State Commission for Energy and Water Regulation just released the new numbers: 18 per cent increase for households, 33 per cent for small businesses, and 39 – for large companies. At the end of the day, ordinary consumers are going to pay twice - through their electricity bills and through more expensive goods.

Yekaterina

Keeping pets at home will soon be controlled by a new regulation of the Sofia Municipality. Part of a three-year project aimed at control of stray animals, the regulation will determine requirements for obtaining, possesion and keeping pets and will be adjusted to the Animal Protection Law. According to the new regulation, the owners will have to secure 10, 15 and 19 square metres for small-, average- and big-sized dogs respectively. Cat owners will have to secure 25 square metres for their favourites. In an effort to improve registration system for domestic dogs, the Municipality plans to increase the registration fee to 24 leva. There will be designated places for walking dogs in Sofia. Containers for disposing of dog waste will be installed.

According to the program, in three years the only stray dogs left in Sofia will be living in the dog shelters, built as part of the project.

Do you think this ambitious program will be a success or failure?

Yekaterina

It’s good to know that Sofia Municipality is not going to raise prices for public transportation. The service that Sofia Public Transport Company (SKGT) offers is overpriced and unsatisfactory, to put it mildly. The tram cars are almost always dirty and overcrowded. Are you using public transport or prefer driving a car?

Yekaterina

Every country has its own cultural peculiarities. The French are said to be good judges of wining and dining. Americans are notorious for knowing how to make the American dream come true and hit the jackpot. Sadly, the Russians are mostly known for their drinking habits. Bulgarians say about themselves that the three things that every Bulgarian understands are politics, soccer and drinking. (Трите нещта, от които всеки българин разбира: политика, футбол и пиене). What are the first three things that come to your mind when you think of Bulgarians?

Yekaterina

Have you had your martenitsa yet? Have you been told that it’s a oh so very unique Bulgarian tradition? Then you might be surprised to know that you will be seeing the same red and white threads worn on lapels in Romania these days. However, it is only children and women who wear them. But the symbolic meaning is the same - the ornament is believed to bring health and good luck. Have you heard of any other country sporting something similar to the Bulgarian martenitsas?

Ani

Route taxis, that’s what they should be called. I have heard all too many excuses from taxi drivers who sit in their cars in the street and are obviously out there to work rather than for the pleasure of it. Or are they? Recently one taxi driver told me he was going to Mladost so he could drive me there and nowhere else. Often I am refused a ride to an address if the taxi driver deems it ”too close”. And yesterday one of them came up with a different but equally impressive reason - he quoted the traffic jam. It makes you think why do they bother to get into the cabs at all?

by Ani Ivanova

Are you going to vote? If not, why? And if yes, what are your reasons?  I just wonder what your thoughts are.

Yesterday (October 11) almost 50,000 teachers and their supporters demonstrated in front of the parliament building. Attitudes seem to be hardening on both sides following the debacle over ministers’ tactless gaffes. What is the way forward? How can either side save face? Who do we blame - the intransigence of the government or the inflexibility of teachers? How can the government offer the teachers what they want without triggering a wages’ spiral? As so often, perhaps there will be a compromise agreeable to both parties. But when? And what about the children being deprived of an education? How will the lost teaching time be made up? Continue to tell us what you think. Should ministerial heads roll or should teachers bite the bullet and accept the offer on the table?