"SAVA DOBROPLODNI"REGIONAL LIBRARY PROVIDED USERS FREE ACCESS TO ONLINE CONFERENCE DEDICATED TO ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS

          People, suffering from ankylosing spondylitis and library patrons took part in online conference, initiated by the Bulgarian association of patients with ankylosing spondylitis in the computer room of the Foreign languages center at "Sava Dobroplodni" Regional Library - Sliven at 10.00 pm., on October 10^th, 2015 /Saturday/.

            Ankylosing spondylitis is a disease that affects young people who are from 18 to 35 years old. One of the main problems is late diagnosis. Medical specialists need between 6 and 8 years of diagnosis. The reasons for this are unclear symptoms, late visits of people to a medical specialist rheumatologist and lack of information.

            According to unofficial data from the Ministry of Health, approximately 30,000 people in Bulgaria suffer from ankylosing spondylitis / Ankylosing Spondylitis /.

            Bulgarian association of patients with ankylosing spondylitis organized a national information campaign "Now you know", aiming to raise public awareness of this little known and difficult to diagnose disease, life and problems of people suffering from it. Infomrs people with opportunities for treatment and prevention.

         The online conference on October 10th was organized as part of the campaign. Patients in real time listened to lectures of the rheumatologist - Dr. Natalia Marinova and the psychologist Elena Atanasova. The president of the association Zhivko Yankov and the lawyer and specialist in drug policy Assen Georgiev from Foundation "Teodora Zaharieva" answered questions related to the provision of treatment by NHIF.

         Each of the speakers answered questions of users in front of computers.

         The library is committed to the problems of these citizens and provided free online access.