Social Demand for Charity

On Government Day marked in parliament last week, lawmakers discussed the social and medical problems faced by war veterans. Former combatants, impoverished pensioners, and handicapped people are the main recipients of aid from the Ukrainian National Red Cross Society. Aid is administered by 3,200 visiting nurses, who tend to patients, help them with household chores, and arrange appointments with doctors. The Red Cross operates 102 medical and social centers and 385 rooms. Last year they provided 2 million medical, social, and household services. According to Red Cross representatives, despite all the difficulties, the amount of in-kind and monetary assistance per person increases every year.

The challenges faced by the Red Cross in Ukraine, efforts to build a civil society, and Ukrainians’ good will are discussed in the following interview with Ukrainian Red Cross Society President Ivan USYCHENKO.

“What has changed in your work since the adoption of the law on the Red Cross Society?”

“First of all, it has been established in law that the government has delegated its functions in the humanitarian sphere to the Red Cross Society. These functions are very clearly defined. As you know, many international documents relating to our operation are adopted with the participation of government representatives. Therefore, the question of who has what rights and responsibilities had to be clarified. Second, many fly-by-night civic organizations have been cropping up from time to time. And despite its developed network, name, and experience, the Red Cross would sometimes be lost in a sea of newcomers. Many people couldn’t understand exactly what our mission was. The law “On Symbols of the Red Cross” was passed in 1999. But have you ever heard of a single lawsuit that would call to account private clinics or hospitals that use our symbol — a red cross? Some officials even considered the Red Cross a branch of the Health Ministry. All this is finished now. Most people know that we provide medical and social aid to the most disadvantaged groups, organize soup kitchens, and distribute clothing, not to mention the fact that thanks to our centers, it has become possible to relieve the problem of medical aid in villages. But we also face difficulties. Sometimes I have to bring along a package of documents and take the time to explain why, of all civic organizations, we should have special status. The principles we adhere to are not always considered important. For example, the Red Cross had proposed the initiative of implementing an international humanitarian law in Ukraine. A major conference was convened to discuss this issue. After lengthy negotiations, one minister stood up and asked, ‘Why do we need an international humanitarian law? Is it such an urgent problem?’ Here’s another example. A few years ago Turkey suffered a major earthquake and many people were injured. We collected food, tents, and medicines, and arranged for a shipping company to deliver this cargo to Istanbul free of charge. I recounted this to one politician, who replied: ‘Turkey is a rich country. It can cope without our assistance.’ But there is such a thing as compassion. The country in general and every citizen in particular should know that they have a neighbor who, although poor, can and wants to help.”

“Does society need the Red Cross, and do you feel you are supported by the Health Ministry?”

“We are the ones helping the ministry. Remember the outbreak of diphtheria in Ukraine in 1995- 1996? I received a call from the chief of the Kyiv health department, who tearfully begged me to find diphtheria vaccine. I faxed my colleagues in Geneva, and three days later three trucks collected one million doses of diphtheria vaccine at Boryspil Airport, which were sent free of charge. We also launched a tuberculosis prevention program, for which we received three million euros from our donors. Thanks to the Dutch Red Cross Society, Zhytomyr and Rivne oblasts now have instant diagnostic laboratories. Mobile teams examine the residents of villages that have no permanent medical services. Unfortunately, the incidence of thyroid cancer has been rising lately.

“Still, the development of the Red Cross movement in any particular area largely depends on the local authorities. Fortunately, most often they meet us halfway, i.e., they provide rent-free premises, help with repairs, and partially subsidize utility bills. Of course, there have been unprecedented incidents when we were required to pay the rent. I don’t understand this. After all, we’re helping them in welfare and healthcare matters, while they’re trying to cash in on our assistance.”

“Perhaps the local authorities should have a narrower mandate in these matters?”

“The government has to resolve this problem. Every region has officials who organize medical assistance for the population and welfare for the old and disabled. Human and financial resources are far from adequate. But there are social services and workers. Give them normal wages and the necessary equipment, and you will immediately feel the results of their work. Recently we managed to persuade the government to pay the salaries of visiting Red Cross nurses from the budget. Even though this only amounts to 300 hryvnias per person, it is still a major breakthrough. For all other needs we raise money on our own. For example, we found a way to provide all visiting nurses in Zakarpattia with uniforms. In some oblasts visiting nurses use public transport for free.”

“Do you ever receive complaints about the quality of services that are provided by visiting nurses?”

“Last year we ordered an opinion poll from the Socis Center. The results show that the people in our care are generally pleased with the work of our visiting nurses, but they think that the list of services should be expanded and their quality improved. In fact, we were expecting this kind of feedback. Owing to the current demographic and economic situation, the number of people who need help is rising every year. Unfortunately, demand presently exceeds the capabilities of the Red Cross several times over. Visiting nurses have a colossal workload, which naturally affects the quality of services. Communication plays a tremendous role, especially for an elderly person who is all alone in the world. Meanwhile, nurses do not always have the time for a brief yet very important chat. Still, our indicators are improving from year to year. For example, in 2004 the Red Cross provided assistance to 350,000 persons, 35,000 of them bedridden or physically disabled. Our network of clothing banks has expanded. Some 30,000 people obtained clothing at 379 centers last year. But, of course, this is still very little. We cannot expand because of the limited assortment of clothing (donating unwanted clothes has yet to become a tradition in Ukraine) and the absence of information about clothing banks.”

“Are there any problems with staffing the visiting service?”

“There have always been problems with personnel. In 1998 we asked the Health Ministry to commission 200 student nurses to work as visiting nurses. After several years only a few of them remain. It’s just that our work is very complex and requires a great deal of stamina. Perhaps only enthusiasts and idealists can stay with the Red Cross for a long time. It is worth noting, however, that the qualifications of our nurses are up to the mark. Nearly all, 96%, of visiting service personnel are specialists with a secondary specialized education, and 30% of them have professional categories. This is despite the fact that visiting nurses do not enjoy the same rights and guarantees as their colleagues in the state healthcare system, i.e., a long- service pension and bonus for continuous employment. Aside from the wages that are now being paid from the budget, we managed to have visiting nurses included in the list of professions with difficult working conditions. This entitles them to an additional annual vacation. Now it would help us greatly to create teams of young medics. First, additional personnel would help us increase efficiency. Second, this would teach the younger generation tolerance and compassion for fellow humans, not to mention the wonderful opportunity for student doctors to gain hands-on experience.”

“How much good will and tolerance is there among Ukrainians?”

“Not enough. Consider volunteers, for example. This work requires truly motivated people for whom it is a calling. You must agree that there should be financial motivation aside from moral qualities. Businesspeople help us much too seldom. Obviously, laws have to be amended to change this situation. When one successful businessman responded to our appeal, we immediately promised that the radio and television audience would learn about his good deed, to which he replied, ‘No way. I might face serious repercussions.’ In general, our experience has shown that poor people are more eager to help. When we went to different agencies with a piggy-bank, almost every pensioner we encountered made a contribution: some donated 10 kopecks, others 15 or 20. Meanwhile, one oblast administration could not scrape up more than 2 kopecks.

“Now we have to address the problem of cultivating tolerance in our society. Ukrainians are gradually beginning to understand that charity is about specific deeds. The most important thing now is to fertilize this soil, stimulate compassion and charity, like in Western countries. With this goal in mind, the resources of the Red Cross should be used more extensively, since it is a structure that has been setting an example of humanism for many years. Moreover, if we speak about building a civil society, the leading role in this process should be played by organizations that have their own networks, established contacts, and personnel.”