5 Vitebsk region projects promoting a healthy lifestyle will receive EU funding
A total of over 130 applications were received, with more than half from the northern region. The total grant support that 5 winning projects in the Dvina region will receive amounts to over 160 thousand euros. The awarding ceremony of special certificates took place last Thursday in the hall of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.
Among those whose initiatives were approved and given the opportunity to be implemented is the Sennensky district organization of the public association "Belarusian Women's Union" in partnership with the local hospital. The project "Not Losing Time" requires the least funding compared to others, but its importance is enormous. It is planned to equip all 18 paramedic and obstetric stations in the district with electric bicycles so that medical workers can reach their patients in remote villages faster. There are about 100 villages in the Sennensky district with a population of less than 50 people, and it is very important that their residents do not feel deprived and forgotten.
One of the most long-term projects is "Together Against Childhood Injuries". It will be implemented by the regional organization of the Belarusian Red Cross Society together with the regional children's clinical center. The project of the Center for Assistance to Territorial Development and Legal Information "Perspective" is also aimed at the younger generation. The regional youth association proposed to create a workout area on the territory of the Begomlsky village council of the Dokshitsky district. And a specially developed mobile application with a set of exercises will help to properly and effectively engage in outdoor training. The idea received the expected support.
Among the winners of the competition is the Department of Education, Sports and Tourism of the Gorodok district
райисполкома. He will be involved in the creation of a sports and recreation complex on the basis of one of the local schools and a recreation camp, a trail for Nordic walking, grounds for hockey and volleyball, as well as teaching schoolchildren the basics of safety and rules of conduct on the roads.The public association for progressive development "Polotsk Center for Local Initiatives" is focusing on promoting an active lifestyle. With the financial support of the EU, it will create a network of trails for Nordic walking, a workout ground, and a rope park for children and adults. The Polotsk initiative "Chasing Health" also includes a series of event activities, such as the "Hand in Hand!" festival of healthy lifestyles and active recreation.
We remind you that the BELMED project is funded by the European Union and implemented by international organizations UNDP, WHO, UNICEF, and UNFPA in cooperation with the Ministry of Health of Belarus. It is aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle among the local population and combating risk factors for the development of non-communicable diseases, such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet, and low physical activity. By minimizing these negative phenomena and, consequently, reducing the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (primarily cardiovascular diseases), which account for 90% of deaths in Belarus, it is possible to increase the life expectancy of the population and improve the demographic situation in the region and the country as a whole.
– Non-communicable diseases are a very important problem because they affect life expectancy, – emphasized the head of the healthcare department of the regional executive committee, Yuri Derkach. – It is gratifying that the Vitebsk region has actively engaged in developing measures within the framework of the project. The initiatives recognized as winners of the competition will complement the activities of the healthcare system and local authorities in solving such important issues as the prevention of non-communicable diseases and improving the quality of life of the population.
Deputy Chairman of the regional executive committee Gennady Grebnev expressed hope that the joint work on this project with
The European Union and the UN will give a positive impetus to strengthening cooperation in improving public health and developing medicine.
– This competition is only a small part of the BELMED project, – said the Head of the European Union Delegation to Belarus, Andrea Wiktorin. – The project is designed for a year, with a total budget of 4.1 million euros. It is gratifying that it has generated great interest. Next year, two competitions will be launched for the other regions of Belarus, thus involving the entire country in the initiative. We want local authorities and communities to cooperate with each other in addressing health protection issues.
Natalia Ryzhkova. Photos by Anton STEPANISHCHEV. "Vitebskiye vesti".