Bulgarian ministers and police officers participate in blood donation drive

Bulgarian Ministers of Health Katya Ivkova and of Interior Ivan Demerdzhiev, along with over 40 officers from the Sofia Directorate of Internal Affairs, participated in a joint blood donation campaign at UMBAL “St. Ivan Rilski” in Sofia.

The initiative, which included the director of the hospital, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nikolay Stoilov, and the head of the Sofia Police Directorate, Senior Commissioner Nikolay Peltekov, aims to promote voluntary and regular blood donation. Minister Ivkova encouraged citizens to donate blood even when they do not have an immediate personal need for it, noting that blood and blood products are required daily for emergencies and chronic disease treatment.

Minister Demerdzhiev emphasized the importance of making blood donation a permanent practice. Additionally, the Ministry of Interior announced plans to equip patrol cars with defibrillators in the coming year and to train personnel in their use, while continuing to train volunteer paramedics within the ministry's structures.