Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Vladimir Penin on achievements in the social sphere and plans for the future
– Vladimir Petrovich, what achievements in the social sphere would you highlight? Specifically, in healthcare? After all, there is a saying: "The health of the nation is the health of the state."
– The issues of the social sphere are multifaceted, touching upon almost everything related to human interests: health, education, upbringing, and so on. The mood in society depends on the quality of work of medical institutions, kindergartens, schools, and colleges. It is also important how our cultural centers, theaters, museums function, and what newspapers write and TV channels show.
Considering the specifics of the region, which has 6221 settlements, we must create comfortable living conditions in every village and hamlet. Achievements in recent years include the modernization of healthcare facilities in all district centers. The network of paramedic and obstetric stations and doctor's ambulatories has been preserved in the Vitebsk region, regardless of the population served. Two years ago, a model center for the prevention of childhood injuries was opened at the regional children's clinical center. In 2018, the dental service was centralized, and the regional clinical dental center was established. For the first time in the republic, emergency medical services have been organized on a territorial basis, ensuring that ambulance crews arrive at the scene of calls promptly. In practical healthcare, the full spectrum of operations in cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, and eye microsurgery has been mastered.
Great importance is attached to the development of medical and social care. The network of nursing care hospitals fully provides assistance to lonely and single elderly people. Conditions have been created for effective medical rehabilitation and health improvement of children and adults. A phased transition to the provision of primary health care by general practitioners is underway. In Postavsky, Braslavsky, and Verkhnedvinsky districts, the service of the population by general practitioners is one hundred percent. General practitioner clinics have been established in the microdistricts of Vitebsk, Orsha, Polotsk, and Novopolotsk.
In recent years alone, new Sharkovshchyna and Miory central district hospitals, Semashko City Hospital No. 1 in Orsha, a new building for the Vitebsk City Polyclinic in the Yug-7 microdistrict, buildings of the Vitebsk City Emergency Hospital, the regional infectious disease and children's clinical hospitals, and the Novopolotsk Central City Hospital have been commissioned. Reconstructions and modernizations have been carried out in almost all central district hospitals. New dental clinics have been opened in Glubokoye, Dokshitsy, Verkhnedvinsk, and Beshenkovichi.
This year, the infectious disease ward of the Glubokoye Central District Hospital, the Kurinskaya General Practitioner Clinic of the Vitebsk District, and the central district polyclinics in Verkhnedvinsk, Senno, and Novolukoml have also been commissioned after reconstruction and modernization, and new modern equipment has been purchased.
In 2020, it is planned to complete the reconstruction of the surgical building of the regional clinical oncology dispensary. The construction of a new building for the "Zhemchuzhina" children's rehabilitation and health center continues.
– In recent years, a great deal of work has been done in the region to optimize school education. How did it proceed?
– Three years ago, after analyzing the state of the material and technical base, the dynamics of the child population in rural areas, and the number of schools, the regional executive committee and the regional council of deputies decided to optimize the network of educational institutions. In 2016–2018, 79 general secondary education institutions were closed and 111 were reorganized, which is 45% of the total number. The savings amounted to more than 40 million rubles annually. A reasonable approach to optimizing the network has improved the quality of education by consolidating the human, material, technical, and financial resources of educational institutions, and increasing the economic efficiency of the operation of institutions and the region's education system as a whole. In addition, it has allowed for the creation of "Schools of the Future" in the regions. The project has been implemented in schools in Tolochin, Dubrovno, Verkhnedvinsk, and Braslav.
Decisions of district executive committees on the closure and reorganization of educational institutions were made after resolving issues related to the organization of the educational process, transportation of children, and ensuring the further employment of staff.
The issue of accessibility of preschool education is a priority. It is being addressed through the construction of institutions, the development of a network of short-stay groups for children, and family kindergartens, taking into account regional needs.
Upcoming plans include the opening of preschool educational institutions in Polotsk in the Airport microdistrict, in Postavy, Novopolotsk, Miory, and Lepel. A kindergarten-school will be built in the Bilevo microdistrict of the regional center, and a nursery-kindergarten with a swimming pool will be built in Orsha.
The focus and approaches to vocational education are changing, and new professional competencies are being developed. Resource centers are being opened on the basis of colleges. In November of this year, one was established at the Orsha State Mechanical-Economic College, and in 2020, one will be created at the Novopolotsk State Polytechnic College.
For two years, the regional executive committee, district executive committees, and educational institutions have been working on the task of training skilled workers and mid-level specialists for the economic sectors. This task is dictated by life. A shortage of labor resources is felt in the agro-industrial complex, construction, and light industry.
In the near future, it is planned to open preschool educational institutions in Polotsk in the Aeroport microdistrict, in Postavy, Novopolotsk, Miory, and Lepel. A kindergarten-school will be built in the Bilevo microdistrict of the regional center, and a nursery-kindergarten with a swimming pool in Orsha.
– Many events have been held as part of the Year of Small Motherland, and 2020 is the year of the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory. How will the Vitebsk region celebrate this date?
– The Vitebsk region is hosting the international campaign "In Glory of the Common Victory," dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory. Ceremonial events for collecting soil from the mass graves of fallen heroes for capsules, which will be laid on May 9, 2020, in the crypt of the Church-Monument in honor of All Saints in Minsk, have taken place in 9 districts. The regional stage will be held in April next year at the "Proryv" memorial complex in the Ushachi district. During the preparation for the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from the Nazi invaders, enterprises, individual entrepreneurs, volunteers, and organizations where veterans previously worked actively participated in providing various types of assistance to Great Patriotic War veterans in all cities and districts. Issues of social and domestic assistance are under constant control and are resolved promptly.
There are almost 1.5 thousand military burial sites in the region. Current repairs have been carried out, and the territories around them have been landscaped. Research work is ongoing to compile databases on soldiers who died in the Vitebsk region, on local natives and those conscripted by the region's military commissariats who died and went missing, on participants in the partisan movement and underground resistance, and on civilians killed by the fascists. In the republican database "Book of Memory of Citizens Who Died Defending the Fatherland," 409,538 people are listed as buried in the region, of which 208,623 names of fallen soldiers have been identified (51% of the total number buried).
– Vitebsk region has its own unique cultural image, which can be more actively used in tourism development. Do you think enough is being done in this regard?
– Vitebsk region has significant potential for tourism development, primarily educational, ecological, health-improving, rural, pilgrimage, and transit tourism. Over the past few years, the region has seen positive dynamics in the increase in the number of tourism industry facilities.
Against the backdrop of constantly growing attention to the issue of environmental preservation as a necessary condition for the preservation of humanity itself, the development of health-improving and ecological tourism is becoming increasingly important. Recently, new types of tourism such as industrial, theatrical, business, culinary, festival, pedagogical, sports, auto tourism, medical, and health-improving tourism have been developed.
Vitebsk region is the only one in Belarus included in the European Culinary Heritage Network, which promotes local culinary features, traditional dishes, and recipes. Belarus is represented by five districts of the Vitebsk region: Miory, Verkhnedvinsk, Glubokoye, Polotsk, and Lepel. Over 30 catering establishments are concentrated here, offering unique dishes made from local products.
Our region has preserved many unique architectural monuments that attract tourists, and they receive significant attention from owners, the state, and society. In particular, two of the three oldest architectural monuments in Belarus are located in the region: the Transfiguration Church in Polotsk and the Annunciation Church in Vitebsk. The Transfiguration Church is a completely authentic, unique monument of global significance. The work currently being carried out by specialists from Belarus and Russia will allow for the restoration of the temple itself by 2024, and the unveiling of 12th-century frescoes on the walls and vaults of the church, created during the time of Euphrosyne of Polotsk. In 2025, the oldest Orthodox monastery in Belarus in Polotsk will celebrate its 900th anniversary.
Many examples can be cited of our architectural heritage being brought back from oblivion. One of the latest is the reconstruction of the mansion at 5a Mark Chagall Street, where the Museum of the History of VNHU opened. Work will soon begin on the restoration of the former hospital building in Polotsk, which will house an educational institution.
It must be acknowledged that among the architectural monuments, there are unused objects in poor condition. They are put up for auction and offered to potential investors. A prime example of private initiative is the "Sprava" festival, organized by natives of Chashniki District in Chereya. Thanks to it, the unique White Church, one of the first Baroque monuments in Belarus, has been included in the cultural discourse, and its conservation is being considered. Work on reviving our national heritage will continue.
– Thank you for the interview.