In the Vitebsk Center for Medical Rehabilitation of Internationalist Soldiers, people are voting for peace
… Breakfast had just finished, and at the polling station, located in a cozy gym, it was noted that about 80 percent of voters had already fulfilled their civic duty.
– Why postpone until later if you can do it now? – the Garbenok couple smiles.
Galina Vladimirovna and Sergey Nikolaevich are from Lepel. She is the director of a rural school, and he works at a private enterprise.
– Elections are a sacred matter, – asserts Sergey Nikolaevich. – The order in the country directly depends on them. And the lives of each of us depend on the order. My wife and I raised two daughters, and we already have grandchildren. We want to be calm about their future. Such chaos as in neighboring countries cannot be allowed.
Sergey Garbenok is a former international soldier. He spent almost two years in northern Afghanistan in the city of Tashkurgan and participated in combat operations. Fortunately, he was lucky to return unharmed, but he buried many friends…
– My whole life is connected with protection, security, and rescue, – the voter reflects. – Both in hot spots and in peacetime. After returning from the army, I worked in the Ministry of Emergency Situations for a long time, responding to fires. And I understood the main thing: everything can be prevented, overcome, and secured in time. But human lives can never be returned – there is nothing more valuable than them. Therefore, it is important not to stand aside, but to say your "yes" in time. Just as all conscious citizens of our Belarus are doing today, during the elections to the parliament and local councils of deputies.
To the elections – as to a holiday. For Ivan Shchurko, even here, in a closed inpatient facility, a suit and tie are mandatory. Ivan Antonovich drops his already filled ballot into the ballot box and agrees to a mini-interview.
– This is my fifteenth rehabilitation course here. I feel the state's care firsthand. Look how the rehabilitation center has transformed in recent years – it's a state-of-the-art medical facility that helps thousands of patients from all over the country! It's wonderful that there's an opportunity to undergo a full course of treatment. We have an excellent gym with many exercise machines and medical instructors, a center for Chinese medicine with non-traditional techniques, a good hydrotherapy department, and much more at our disposal. I've only been here a week, and I'm already ready to fly!
Of course, Ivan Antonovich exaggerated a bit about flying. He's more accustomed to swimming. A former sailor, he is a combat veteran of the Middle East, having served on the destroyer "Buyniy." His career also prominently features his work in educating the younger generation, to which Ivan Antonovich dedicated over 40 years of his life. He raised two sons as true patriots – one is a renowned artist, and the other works in the petrochemical industry.
– An active life stance, feasible participation in public activities – without these, no one can be a patriot. Patriotism is not about pretty words, but about real actions, sincere concern for the fate of the country, – the interlocutor is convinced. – Everyone for whom I vote today are worthy individuals capable of making a significant contribution to the development of Belarus.
Pensioner Galina Leshkova from Vitebsk shares the same opinion.
– It couldn't be otherwise, – the patient asserts. – It's just that some people, for some reason, begin to appreciate the benefits of our state and social system only when they face problematic life situations. But it's better to do everything possible in advance to exclude the possibility of their occurrence altogether! Two years ago, I had a stroke. Thanks to the doctors, they saved me. On the referral of the city polyclinic, for the second time, I am undergoing a completely free, almost month-long rehabilitation here, at the center. I bow low to all the staff for their care. I'll be discharged in a couple of days, I feel significantly better. And it's become easier to move, although I still use a wheelchair.
Galina Nikolaevna says that she is prescribed all the necessary procedures, she has her own physical therapist who helps her develop her muscles. And also, a permanent employee is assigned to the patient with limited physical abilities – he accompanies her to all procedures. So there are no problems with movement.
– Our rehabilitation center is designed for 160 beds, – emphasizes the chief physician Vladislav Muzhichenko. – The material and technical base is constantly being updated. Two years ago, a new building was commissioned, which was built in accordance with the State Investment Program. But the modernization and expansion did not end there. Last year, about 1.5 million rubles were invested in repairs and equipment purchase from the regional budget funds. A large volume of work is planned for the current year as well.
Along with combat veterans, the center actively rehabilitates those who have had a stroke. All conditions have been created for their speedy recovery. People appreciate this.
Chairperson of the election commission Ekaterina Voroshen notes: despite the fact that patients arrived from different regions of Belarus, voter turnout is good. Many managed to fulfill their civic duty early while still at home. Others came by the time the polling station opened, which was accompanied by the performance of the anthem of Belarus. About 10 people, due to health reasons, will vote directly in their wards. They will vote for the present and the future – may our native Belarus continue to prosper.
"SB"