More than 350 people received free medical check-ups from Bulgarian doctors during the latest mission of the Bulgarian Memory Foundation in Albania’s Mala Prespa region, the foundation said.
The initiative was organised with the support of Bulgaria’s foreign and defence ministries and in coordination with Albania’s health ministry.
Medical teams from Sofia’s St Ivan Rilski Hospital, Plovdiv’s St Georgi Hospital, Reverse Dermatology and Heidelberg Medical Center took part, offering examinations in cardiology, internal medicine, endocrinology, rheumatology and dermatology.
Among the most common diagnoses were skin conditions such as eczema and rosacea, with some cases of skin tumours referred for surgery. Doctors also reported thyroid diseases linked to low iodine intake in mountainous areas, severe joint problems including rheumatoid arthritis and degenerative changes from heavy agricultural work, as well as cardiovascular disease. Some patients showed improvements after being examined and treated in previous missions, the foundation said.
The mission also included young Albanian medical professionals who studied in Bulgaria and returned to support their local communities. Lyuba Mitre, a nurse working in Plovdiv, said she was glad to return to Albania to assist the residents, who, she added, appreciated the medical care and awaited the visits with anticipation.
The foundation said the next visit is planned for Oct. 24-26 and will expand to new specialties, including otolaryngology, ophthalmology, neurology, mammology and urology.