Andreychenko controlled the epidemic situation in boarding schools in the Vitebsk region
Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus Vladimir Andreichenko, on behalf of the Head of State, monitored the epidemiological situation in nursing homes in the Vitebsk region.
Vladimir Andreichenko visited the Babinichi psycho-neurological nursing home for the elderly and disabled in the Orsha district.
There are 156 nursing homes and 24-hour care units in the Republic of Belarus, housing about 21,000 people and employing 14,000 staff. The largest number of such social institutions, 36, is in the Vitebsk region. Due to the challenging COVID-19 situation in the country, the President of the Republic of Belarus instructed the parliamentary corps to take control and provide necessary assistance to nursing homes to combat coronavirus.
– In each electoral district, deputies, together with local authorities, keep this issue under control. Thanks to coordinated work, including with the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection and the Ministry of Health, we have prevented pandemic outbreaks in social institutions. It is enough to say that as of October 29, out of 21 thousand residents in boarding houses and 24-hour care units, only 33 people have contracted coronavirus; they are undergoing treatment in medical facilities, – said Vladimir Andreichenko.
There are no cases of illness among residents in social boarding institutions in the Vitebsk region; the situation is stable and under control, reported **Alexander Khristoforov, Chairman of the Committee for Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee**:
– When COVID began, we focused on isolating residents of boarding houses and implementing a shift-based work schedule for employees in complete isolation. Currently, we maintain the complete isolation regime, but the shift-based method was canceled after 100% of residents, except for those with contraindications, and 100% of staff were vaccinated. Therefore, there are no sick residents and a minimum number of employees who have had the disease.
These measures also helped preserve the health of 379 residents of the Babinichi boarding house, where a shift-based work schedule was used until May 1, until they were vaccinated.
– We are still observing all mandatory precautionary measures and more. Residents are accommodated by blocks, separate routes have been developed for residents and orderlies, we work one day and are off for four days. We have everything necessary, including a three-month supply of medications, – said **Svetlana Chepik, Director of the Babinichi psycho-neurological boarding house for the elderly and disabled.**
The social institution has five doctors on staff out of more than 230 medical workers who monitor the health of the residents. A good medical base has been created. Analyses are performed in its own laboratory, services are provided in physiotherapy, treatment, massage, and dental offices, and there is a salt cave.
– For now, we are not conducting PCR tests in our laboratory, but we plan to start in the near future, – noted Svetlana Chepik.
A major renovation, started last year, is in full swing at the Babinichi boarding house. More than 4 million rubles have been allocated for it, and 2.6 million rubles have been spent this year. Work is underway both inside the premises and on landscaping. The women's block has been commissioned, construction and installation work in the men's block and administrative building are nearing completion, and have begun in the food block. Modernization of the utility building, cold storage, and elevator equipment is planned.
As part of the current repairs, plumbing equipment, windows, balconies have been updated, heating and fencing systems have been replaced, facades have been painted, and video surveillance systems are being installed.
This year, a passenger car, computer equipment, medical, kitchen and lighting equipment, sound equipment, a cinema, and a diesel generator set were purchased.
For occupational therapy, the boarding house has four workshops: carpentry, sewing, plant cultivation, and "Airy Mood". Here, they produce baskets, boxes, bed linen, grow seedlings of flowers and vegetables for themselves, for sale, and by order for enterprises and organizations. They plan to open another laser engraving workshop.
The institution has 70 hectares of agricultural land, where vegetables, fruits, and berries are grown for its own needs, and surplus produce is sold. Feed is also prepared here for 40 head of cattle, 17 of which are dairy cows.
– While repairs are underway and due to the pandemic, we are not holding mass events and are preparing for revaccination in early November, as the six-month period since our COVID-19 vaccinations has expired, – noted Svetlana Chepik.