The Russian Ombudsman for Children visited Chechnya and noted the
large number of handicapped children. Ombudsman Pavel Astakhov said
that the number of handicapped exceeds the average throughout the
country 2.3-fold. Their number increased in 2009 by 8,548, a 20% rise
compared with 2008, and today their total number has reached 44,000,
which is 3.3% of the republic's population.
High ranking officials say that the reason is a long social-economic
and moral crisis. Within the framework of a program 'Children of
Russia' a program was developed for 2007-2010, which includes the
social protection of handicapped children. But it was not approved due
to budget problems. A social support system for the handicapped for
2006-2010 was introduced, as well as the social support of the
handicapped in the republic for 2009-2010.
The republic has 9 social centers to provide help for families and
children. There is only one medical-social-rehabilitation center with
90 places for disabled children in Argun. 267 children received
treatment within 10 months of 2009 in this center. According to the
decree of the Russian Ministry of Social Development, passed in 1994,
there needs to be 1 such center per 1,000 children, which means the
republic needs 43 more such centers. The republic has several medical
facilities for children, a diagnostic center, children's hospital,
child care center for children with psychoneurological disorders. The
Ministry of Labor and UNICEF contributed by opening psychological help
rooms and providing staff.
The republic lacks skilled medical staff, including psychologists and
psychiatrists. The region only has 35% of the needed pediatricians.
Low wages and housing problems led to a staff shortage, the deputy
head of the administration of Itum-Kalinskiy region, Petimat
Gazimagomadova, said.
According to a social organization 'Lamaz Az', there are 3120 people
who were injured or killed by explosive devices registered in their
database. 772 of them are children, 631 of them were wounded and 141
of them died. Experts believe that Chechnya needs a children's rights
protection law, which will be the base for other laws protecting
disabled children and orphans.
Many have big hopes for a bill developed in Moscow providing
compensation for victims of counter-terrorist operations in Chechnya.
Lawyers note that 125 children became disabled because of these
operations. Today a child can only prove that he became handicapped
because of the state's actions in court and receive a compensation of
2,000 roubles (approximately $65).
Timur Utsayev, Grozny. Exclusively for VK
