Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Belarus Maryanna Shchetkina visited the Vitebsk region

Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Belarus Marianna Shchetkina, during a two-day working visit, visited a number of social institutions in Postavy, Glubokoye, Braslav and Polotsk districts of the Vitebsk region.

The first thing she paid attention to was the noticeably increased level of social work organization in the region and the improvement of the material and technical base of boarding schools and territorial centers.

– If about five years ago the Vitebsk region was the weakest in the republic in these parameters, then over the last two years it has confidently held leading positions, and by the end of 2013 it took first place, – said the minister. – Everything we saw in the Vitebsk region is the result of targeted and very complex work. Today, there are 15 boarding schools, 25 territorial centers for social services for the population, and 19 24-hour care units for elderly citizens operating in the region. They provide not only the basic needs of the wards for shelter, food, and daily care, but also offer opportunities for communication and self-realization. This is very important, as people need mutual help and support.

Many new forms of social work are used in the country, including those adopted from foreign experience. And, as Marianna Shchetkina noted, territorial centers play a leading role in their selection, and the ministry's task is to help, support initiatives, and create a regulatory framework if necessary.

– In the Vitebsk region, co-housing for pensioners, foster families, wintering houses, and independent living houses are successfully practiced, and, what is especially valuable, a new form of work, such as state social contracting, is being tested in cooperation with the Red Cross. I can say that the Vitebsk region is currently a leading region in the organization of social services for the population.

In which direction will the sphere of social support develop further? According to the head of the ministry, the main emphasis is placed on territorial centers for social services.

– We have set the task to maximally preserve people's living at home, in their native land, – emphasized Marianna Shchetkina. – To achieve this, we will expand the list and improve the quality of services provided by the centers. Their focus should be not only on the elderly and disabled, but also, for example, on families with children. In addition, territorial centers can take over some of the services provided by consumer services, thereby developing healthy competition, and thus improving the quality of service in certain settlements. In essence, the territorial social service center should become a place where people can turn for almost any life issues.

Speaking about the changes that have occurred in the sphere of social services, the Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Vladimir Terentyev gave specific figures as an illustration:

– Over the past three years, about 150 billion rubles have been invested in the development of the material and technical base, primarily of boarding houses and 24-hour care units, which is 10 times more than in the previous ten years. In the last two years alone, new vehicles have been purchased for 13 boarding houses. The current state of social institutions is strikingly different from what it was a few years ago.

A clear example of this is the Dunilovichi psycho-neurological boarding house for the elderly and disabled. Just a couple of years ago, people lived there in single-story barrack-type buildings without running water. Now they have a modern three-story building equipped with everything necessary.

– There are examples of restoring the legal capacity of patients in psycho-neurological boarding houses. The average life expectancy in Dunilovichi is 81 years, – noted Vladimir Terentyev. – All this, in my opinion, is the best result of the efforts made. The work continues. This year, the focus has shifted to the Orsha and Polotsk regions. We are doing everything to ensure that boarding houses in the region have decent living conditions.

Not hiding his surprise and admiration, the Chairman of the Committee for Labor, Employment and Social Protection of the Gomel Regional Executive Committee Petr Savitsky shared his impressions of his stay in the Vitebsk region.

– A little over three years ago, I was here on a similar visit. And what I saw today, I consider a colossal success and a victory for both the Vitebsk region and the Ministry of Labour system as a whole, – he said. – I am impressed and can unequivocally state that the money was invested wisely. I am pleasantly surprised and happy for my colleagues.

Tatyana Gornova, "Vitebskiye Vesti"