Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev announced Monday the official launch of the 11th edition of the 'Bulgarian Christmas' charity initiative.

The opening ceremony was held in one of the leading university hospitals in Sofia, Bulgaria 'Tzaritza Yoanna', better known as ISUL.

''Bulgarian Christmas' campaign 2013-2014 is oriented toward young children with visual and hearing impairments.

"Children do not realize what good vision and hearing means, thus they rarely complain. Their impairments become clear only when they start going to school. However, without a timely care, the disability can be fatal and remain for life, said the patron of the charity campaign, Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev, as quoted by Darik Radio.

"Unfortunately, Bulgarian country lacks medical devices for screening, early diagnosis and timely treatment. Sadly, some children are at high risk of losing their sight and hearing at a very early age. We, as their parents and their doctors, face the challenge and responsibility to control this risk," Plevneliev added at the opening of this year's initiative.

The finalized earlier edition of the 'Bulgarian Christmas' campaign for 2012-2013 was focused on the rehabilitation of children with neurological disorders, President Plevneliev recalled.

The 'Bulgarian Christmas' initiative was launched by former President Georgi Parvanov in 2002 with a view to raise money for the treatment of seriously ill Bulgarian children and to buy medical equipment for children's hospitals and clinics.

President Plevneliev has vowed to keep alive the initiative, which Parvanov has described as one of the biggest achievements he would leave to his successor.

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