Online meeting with Prof. Radka Argirova, MD, leading virologist with prominent scientific and practical experience was held on January 7th, 2021. The meeting provoked interest and attracted attention of more than 80 people from all regions of the country – among them were representatives of Learning Action Partnership (LAP), BFPA staff and Management bard, NGOs, institutions, medical doctors and health mediators. The topic of the event was ‘ SARS-CoV-2 – About the Virus, Specific Diagnostics and Vaccines’ .
During the more than two hours and a half lasted forum was presented a lecture including information about arising epidemics and pandemics, mechanisms of occurrence and evolution of viruses; main generally accepted facts, diagnosis and development of Covid 19. Review of the types of tests for Covid 19 was made, qualities of antigen test and types of PCR tests were discussed, as special attention was drawn to cases with false negative results, asymptomatic patients, and symptomatic patients with negative results. Special attention was also given to the different vaccines elaborated to combat the virus. Participants took the opportunity to ask additional questions after the lecture.
The event passed with great interest. It was realized in the frame of building capacity meetings with different specialists foreseen on the project of Bulgarian Family Planning and Sexual Health Association (BFPA) ‘ The Ability to Change’ , supported by OAK Foundation.
Prof. Radka Argirova, MD, is virologist in Tokuda Hospital Sofia, founder and Head of First AIDS laboratory in Bulgaria, Chair of the Bulgarian Society of Medical Virology (since 2001), member of the International AIDS society and the European AIDS clinical Association and Chair of the Humboldt Union Medical and Biological Section in Bulgaria (since 2010).
You can see the lecture here (in Bulgarian): Пандемията Covid-19 анализирана и обяснена / Covid-19 pandemic analyzed and explained – YouTube
Audio with the discussion followed (in Bulgarian): AUDIO prof. Argirova Q&A session, January 7th, 2021 by BFPA (soundcloud.com)
