OREANDA-NEWS. May 25, 2011. On May 23 Minister of Health and Social Development Valentina Ulich has held a meeting with representatives of the Finnish delegation led by Marja-Leena Karkkainen director of the department of the Administration of bodies of the government in Northern Finland. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the plan of cooperation for 2011 and carrying out of two seminars on subjects of Labour Activity of the Disabled People and Safe Childhood and Healthy Life. Gennady Sarayev, Deputy Minister of Education of the republic, has also taken part in the conversation.

Participants of the meeting have ascertained, that issues of integration and labour rehabilitation of young disabled persons are complex, but actual, to which great attention is paid both in Russia, and in Finland since recently. Our party needs to study experience of the Finnish colleagues in this sphere. There have been specified terms of the seminar (September, 2011), entry list of participants, subjects of papers, the list of institutions to be visited. Finland will be presented in Petrozavodsk by 20 experts.

It was decided to conduct the second seminar next year in Sortavala. Safe childhood, prevention of the negative phenomena in the youth environment, concern with the problem of youth marginalization – these problems are common for both countries and need special attention. A new law on public health services one of which parts is devoted completely to preservation of health of teenagers was adopted in Finland recently. Participants of the meeting have agreed to state the subject of the seminar more precisely, and to lay out the specifics of the forthcoming work on its preparation in September. Valentina Ulich and Marja-Leena Karkkainen have expressed confidence in continuation of cooperation and development of its aspects regarding urgent issues common for both countries.

The meeting in the Ministry of Health and Social Development was held within the framework of implementation of the Memorandum on results of negotiations of the ministers of the Republic of Karelia and the Administration of bodies of the government in Northern Finland concerning bilaterial cooperation in 2010-2011. One of the articles of the Memorandum says that cooperation in spheres of social security and public health services will be focused on issues of social security of family, youth and childhood, equal conditions of life, support of health and well-being of the population, protection of children, prevention of alcohol and drug addiction and family violence.