Elderly residents of the Vitebsk region can count on the assistance of social services, especially during periods of unfavorable epidemiological situations.

Today, any elderly resident of the region who cannot independently go to the pharmacy for medication or to the shop for groceries can count on urgent assistance from social services, especially during an unfavorable epidemiological situation.

Today, any elderly resident of the region who cannot independently go to the pharmacy for medication or to the shop for groceries can count on urgent assistance from social services, especially during an unfavorable epidemiological situation.

This was stated by Svetlana Kozlova, Chief Specialist of the Department of Social Support and Residential Institutions of the Committee for Labour, Employment and Social Protection of the Regional Executive Committee.

— Since the end of March, the Committee for Labour, Employment and Social Protection has organised activities for COVID-19 prevention to protect the elderly (there are 276,000 of them in the region, including about 20,000 single individuals and about 140 living alone), — explained Svetlana Viktorovna. — Since that time, the delivery of groceries, medicines, and essential goods has been organised. It is carried out by employees of territorial centres, representatives of the Belarusian Red Cross Society, BRSM, rural executive committees, trade union organisations, and post offices. Cooperation with trade organisations has been established. Over 10,000 requests have been fulfilled during the entire period.

A request for such services can be submitted to the territorial centre for social services for the population at your place of residence. Within two to three days, essential goods will be delivered to people of non-working age (primarily to veterans, disabled people of groups 1 and 2, as well as those in self-isolation).

Online consultations are organised on the websites of territorial centres, and recommendations for adaptive physical education for older people and COVID-19 prevention are posted. Employees of the Vitebsk State Medical University provide methodological support to elderly citizens who can study without leaving home by visiting the relevant sections of the websites. Each Territorial Centre for Social Services for the Population has a call centre where you can call with a problem.