Her life story is almost unbelievable. During her childhood, she gradually lost nearly all of her loved ones, neither of her two marriages lasted, and meningococcal disease cost her both legs. Yet manager Andrea Brzobohatá has always managed to pick herself up and move forward. She also entered politics. She has parliamentary experience, plenty of plans for the future, and this year she will run for the Senate as a candidate for the ANO movement.
What were your feelings when you entered politics several years ago? Have they changed since then?
At the time, I was a little naïve because I thought I would come in and change the world. But unfortunately, that is not how it works. Choosing one issue and convincing another hundred members of parliament to vote for it is hard work. Still, I am very pleased that I succeeded in getting meningococcal vaccination covered by the state.
That was obviously a very personal issue for you. You lost your legs because of this disease, didn’t you?
That’s right. The amendment passed within about six months, and then, within another year, adolescents were also included in the vaccination programme. I consider that a major achievement. I believe the younger generation will grow up protected through vaccination. Based on my own experience, however, I would advise everyone to get vaccinated, even in their forties. It is a deceptive disease – it initially resembles the flu, but then it can become life-threatening. Every minute counts. I also consider securing reimbursement for bionic legs a major achievement, as they help people with amputated limbs like me.
What did you do after leaving the Chamber of Deputies in 2021?
I wanted to continue serving in parliament, but I was placed too low on the candidate list, and someone else was given priority. Four years ago, I also ran for the Senate. I made it to the second round where I faced Ms. Smotlachová, but she ultimately won. Besides politics, I also devote a great deal of time to charity, so I certainly have plenty to do. I work with the Association Against Meningitis and with No Foot No Stress, which helps people after limb amputations. We have organized two wonderful charity balls at the Prague Congress Centre. I am friends with its Director General, Lenka Žlebková, so we received favourable conditions – otherwise we simply could not have afforded it. At the first event, we invited the fantastic Moondance Orchestra together with Dasha from StarDance. They offered us a reduced fee, which made it possible for us to hire them. They have been performing at our events ever since because we have not found anyone better. The ball features performances by people in wheelchairs, with or without prosthetic limbs, pole dancing, and everyone dresses elegantly, has their hair and make-up done, and enjoys a wonderful evening. People without disabilities also attend, and everyone has a fantastic time together. They are beautiful and deeply moving moments that often bring tears to your eyes.
Adam Vojtěch, Andrea Brzobohatá, Bohuslav Svoboda
Has your disability ever helped you achieve your goals?
Paradoxically, in almost every way. There was not a single person in the Chamber of Deputies who did not smile at me. That naturally made it easier to get things done. During my four years in parliament, I spent those years walking on my prosthetic legs. I kept a wheelchair only for exceptional situations. Sometimes parliamentary sessions lasted all night, until four in the morning, and then I could rest in it. It is similar to coming home after spending the whole day walking in high heels and having swollen feet. With prosthetic legs, your thighs are fixed in rigid sockets, and after a while they begin to chafe and burn, so you have to take the prostheses off. Unfortunately, I was later diagnosed with cancer, so even now my walking is more difficult because my body remains weakened after treatment.
In your opinion, what is the biggest problem facing Czech healthcare today?
Many people may disagree with me, but I feel the current system is unsustainable. I believe patients should contribute financially to some services. I know anyone expressing such an opinion in parliament would become unpopular, but I genuinely think that is the reality. Those who want higher-quality care or who do not want to wait for a CT scan, mammogram, or X-ray should be able to pay extra. Everyone else would still receive the same care – they would simply have to wait longer. The planned digitalization of healthcare services will also help. People will be able to check the system and discover that they can receive an examination sooner in Pardubice or Hradec Králové. They can then simply take a bus or drive there and have the examination much earlier.
Do you think the current government will listen to your proposals?
I hope so. I hope that over time the people responsible will understand that the current system is unsustainable. We will see. After all, the Senate mainly serves in an advisory and supervisory role, but it can submit legislation or proposals to the Chamber of Deputies. There are other issues that concern me as well, and I would like to contribute to changing them in the future.
Which issues?
If you have a disability or another health condition and stay at home, you receive the maximum care allowance and the highest level of various other forms of assistance. But if you decide to work and return to work, they take everything away from you. That simply makes no sense. It should be the opposite. If you have a disability but want to work and actively participate in society, the state should perhaps contribute to your fuel costs or provide similar support. The goal should be to offer assistance that genuinely helps people return to employment.
You probably cannot change that in a single electoral term.
Certainly not. Probably not even in two. But that is how it should be. One million people in Czechia – one in every ten – live with a disability. Many disabilities are invisible, for example, diabetes. The current system encourages passivity. People stay at home, subscribe to Netflix or another streaming service, spend their days in bed, do nothing, do not even buy a car, receive maximum benefits, and feel comfortable. That is the entire system I would like to reform.
I wish you every success. You are clearly determined – I am sure you will succeed.
I am an incurable optimist. I believe there is something good in everyone, and that approach works. My children have helped me enormously and continue to do so. I also have a little grandson. He is nine months old and absolutely wonderful. I try to visit him every week, and I must say that watching him grow and being a grandmother is the most beautiful role of my life.
The author is a staff writer for Deník
The Senate
Speaking about a possible role in the Senate, Andrea says she has the same goals as she did in 2020. “They all revolve around healthcare. I want to continue helping people with disabilities and try to do even more for them. After my previous experience, I know not everything will be possible, but I will at least try to make progress in some areas. I also consider it important to bring people together, which is something I have been able to do through my charitable work. I would also like to encourage greater respect and humility towards women and towards people who have achieved something meaningful. I think we are still lacking that.”
CV BOX
Andrea Brzobohatá (born June 9, 1971, in Brno) is a member of the Central Bohemian Regional Assembly and a former Member of the Czech Parliament.
She graduated from the Secondary Pedagogical School in Kroměříž and later studied at the Central European Management Institute (CEMI) in Prague.
In 2010, meningococcal disease resulted in the amputation of both of her legs above the knee. Today, she walks using electronic prosthetic legs and also uses a wheelchair.
She founded No Foot No Stress (www.nofoot.cz), an independent voluntary association supporting people with lower-limb amputations, and cooperates with the non-profit organization Černí koně.
She served as a Member of the Chamber of Deputies from 2011 after being elected as a non-party candidate for the ANO movement. This autumn, she will stand as a candidate for the Senate.
She lives near Prague and has a daughter, Nikola, and a son, Adam.
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