HESED launched free blood tests for children. The results: 20% of them have anemia
Free medical tests for children aged 0 to 6 years from vulnerable families
The morning of September 11, 2025 began with a children’s cry at the medical office of the MID Center Suhodolska, where we started conducting free medical tests for children aged 0 to 6 years from vulnerable families living in poor living conditions or in a situation of homelessness in the Fakulteta neighborhood. The activity is happening thanks to the SOLACE-CEE project.
The tests include indicators of key importance for monitoring the general health and nutritional status of children:
• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Iron binding capacity (IBC – an indicator of the amount of iron that the blood can carry, which most accurately characterizes the metabolism of the microelement in the body)
• Calcium (Ca) and Iron (Fe)
Blood sampling continued until the end of October.
The results of the blood tests showed that 6 out of a total of 30 children tested had anemia.
This means 20% of tested children are anemic. The results were processed by the project pediatrician, Dr. Krasimira Baynova, after which the parents received treatment guidelines and individual support.
The initiative is proof that when social and health care go hand in hand, the complex needs of children from vulnerable families living in unsafe or inadequate homes do not go unanswered.
