A new building has been commissioned at the "Zhemchuzhina" Children's Rehabilitation and Health Center in the Lepel district
The symbolic opening of the facility, built within the framework of the State Program for Overcoming the Consequences of the Chernobyl NPP Disaster for 2011–2015 and for the period up to 2025, was attended by Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly Vladimir Andreichenko, Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Belarus Maxim Ermolovich, Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Alexander Subbotin, representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, and other distinguished guests.
The impressions of this facility are the kindest, shared Vladimir Andreichenko after familiarizing himself with the building. He recalled that this project was started back in the late 1990s:
– It was a difficult time. Issues were resolved with difficulty. There was no certainty that everything would work out, but thanks to the support of the President of the Republic of Belarus, this project was realized. And in general, the health resort today meets world standards. It is equipped with everything necessary. There is a canteen, a medical building, a school, and a cultural and health center on site. The new facility will expand the sleeping capacity of "Zhemchuzhina" by approximately 30%. And these capacities will work for our children – our future. And their health is a priority for all of us, so this project is very valuable for the Republic of Belarus.
The construction of the facility was financed under the investment program of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee in the form of subsidies from the republican budget to finance expenses related to overcoming the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster. The building is designed for 166 beds. It also includes a canteen with production workshops for the food unit and a dining room for 84 seats, a medical unit, playrooms, and recreation areas. Its territory is landscaped and includes a beach area on the shore of Lake Shchybot.
According to the center's director, Vera Zakrevskaya, the functionality of the recreation areas on each floor was considered during the construction of the building. The first floor was named the "hospitality floor" as it is fully adapted for the comfortable stay of people with disabilities. The second floor is the technology floor. Here, children will engage in technical creativity. The third floor will be an art space, and the fourth will be an active recreation area.
The medical base established here deserves special attention. The medical unit is equipped with electro-light therapy, electro-sleep, magnetotherapy, inhalation therapy, massage, and artificial climate treatment rooms. The acquired equipment allows for various types of electrotherapy, such as amplitudemodulated therapy, interference therapy, medicinal electrophoresis, centimeter wave therapy, fluctuorization, ultrasound therapy, darsonvalization, and ultraton therapy, DDT therapy, etc. For light therapy procedures, there are bioptron, UV therapy, and laser therapy devices. A local cryotherapy apparatus has been purchased. The hydrotherapy unit offers underwater shower massage, dry carbon dioxide baths, and therapeutic and health-improving balneological procedures. The gym is equipped with the necessary types of exercise machines for strength and functional training, and equipment for physical therapy classes has been installed, said Maria Zhalnerene, Deputy Director for Medical Affairs.
Another important nuance, thoroughly considered during the design and construction of the facility, relates to the organization of a barrier-free environment for individuals with limited physical capabilities, emphasized Vera Zakrevskaya:
– For example, zones for training children with special needs have been set up in the lobby. The hydrotherapy unit has a special lift. In the gym, the kinesiotherapy equipment is designed to accommodate training sessions for children with disabilities and adult patients with limited physical capabilities. Comfortable conditions have been created throughout the facility, making it fully accessible.
It is also noteworthy that the new facility is already actively involved in the center's operations. This year, 8,595 vouchers have already been sold for it. Contracts have been concluded for the health improvement and sanatorium-resort treatment of organized groups of children from the regions most affected by the Chernobyl disaster, as well as for the health improvement and treatment of children together with parents or accompanied by adults.
Furthermore, with the commissioning of the facility, the export of services will significantly increase due to the implementation of cooperation projects with various regions of the Russian Federation. A contract has already been signed with LLC "Sanatorium-Resort Association 'Tsentrzdravkurort'" for the health improvement of children from Moscow and the Moscow region in 2023.
Overall, the project implementation will allow the Lepel health resort to significantly increase its economic efficiency. According to preliminary data, the utilization rate of the existing capacities of the medical building, the cultural and leisure complex, and the school will increase by 25%. The planned revenue growth from the sale of products and services will be over 25%, and the increase in enterprise profitability will be about 10%. The amount of payments to the budget and mandatory insurance contributions to the Social Protection Fund of the Population will grow by 15–20%. The expansion of the health resort will positively affect the development of the Lepel district, as the opening of the new building entails the creation of more than fifty new jobs, most of which will be filled by local residents.
