A solemn ceremony honoring national heroes will be held today at the Military Medical Academy (MMA), with the main goal of paying deep respect to those who have died while performing their life-saving mission.
At 12:00, a one-minute silence will be observed in front of the Medical Officers Monument to honor the memory of fallen rescuers. The initiative started in 2005 based on an idea by Dr. Totko Naydenov, editor-in-chief of the "Bulgarian Doctor" newspaper, and received support from numerous authoritative institutions.
The focal point of the event is the story of 26-year-old Dr. Stefan Cherkezov, who on August 15, 1963, demonstrated exceptional heroism by saving 47 people from a burning bus, but unfortunately died from severe burns.
Statistics reveal an impressive picture of self-sacrifice: over 130 doctors and 20 nurses have died during their professional duties - while performing risky night operations, ambulance transport incidents, or becoming infected from patients.
Especially dramatic was the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the "black lists" were added with the names of more than 150 medical professionals who gave their lives fighting to save coronavirus patients.
Representatives from the presidency, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior, General Directorate "Fire Safety and Population Protection", as well as non-governmental and trade union organizations, have been invited to the ceremony.
Last year's edition of the event was marked by ambulance sirens and wreath-laying, symbolizing the deep national recognition of heroic rescuers.