Doctors of Yamal arrive in every choum

Yamal is a region with the largest number of representatives of indigenous ethnic minorities of the North living on the territory of Ural Federal Okrug. At the same time, the fairly large number of them leads the traditional way of life in tundra. It was stated by a deputy governor of Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug Tatyana Buchkova at the sitting of the Council for indigenous peoples of the North and Siberia, which was held by video teleconference by Boris Kirillov, the deputy plenipotentiary envoy of the President of the Russian Federation in Ural Federal Okrug.

Tatyana Buchkova reported on measures of support for representatives of indigenous ethnic minorities of the North. For example, the regional standard of minimum material security operates for indigenous peoples of the North, who lead the traditional way of life and live in Yamal. In particular, it includes medical first-aid kits, national consumer goods, motor fuels and satellite phones, in order people can call for help if necessary.  

According to the deputy governor, in most cases medical organizations in the region are situated as close as possible to the place of residence of indigenous ethnic minorities of the North.

“Yamal exceeds the standards set by the Ministry of healthcare. In some cases we have an outpatient clinic, where just a medical and obstetrical station is required. Where an outpatient clinic is required, we have a district hospital. For all these years we have not closed or minimized any institution on the territory of the region”, Tatyana Buchkova said.  

At the same time, she notes that the region also develops air ambulance services, expenditures on them increase every year, and the number of fulfilled flights and residents evacuated to hospitals grows. In addition, mobile medical teams operate in Yamal. In 2019 they made 700 trips and provided assistance to 36 thousand residents from the number of indigenous ethnic minorities of the North. As for preventive medical examination, it is now possible to examine about 50% of those indigenous people, who must pass it. Full coverage has not been achieved yet, since the people live in tundra. Therefore, the most active medical examinations are held on the traditional holidays of indigenous peoples – the Fisherman’s Day and the Reindeer Herder’s Day. At the same time, Tatyana Buchkova underlines that the talk is about grownup population. Doctors examine all the children from the number of indigenous ethnic minorities, who live in boarding schools, during the bigger part of the year.    

Last year the region purchased a photofluorograph based on the KAMAZ chassis. This year it is planned to examine 2 thousand people. The regional project “Yamal needs doctors” is being developed in Yamal in addition to the project “Zemsky Doctor”. 40 doctors, who provide medical help to representatives of indigenous ethnic minorities of the North, have already arrived specifically for work in small rural hospitals. Thanks to the Internet laid to medical and obstetrical stations, doctors actively use the opportunity of telemedicine consultations.

According to Tatyana Buchkova, the mortality rate among indigenous ethnic minorities in Yamal is decreasing; also significant progress was achieved in decrease in the infant mortality rate. She notes that in tundra there are cases of death of children because of the fact that parents did not call doctors in time. Therefore, a lot of information work is done with indigenous population. For example, they receive information about conditions that threaten life of a child, so that parents can recognize the danger in time and call air ambulance.

Since last year all newborns in Yamal have received gifts from the region. It is worth noting that representatives of indigenous ethnic minorities received them earlier, and after introduction of such measure of support for all new mothers they receive two gifts, when they are discharged from the hospital. (The note: choum is a dwelling of nomads, reindeer herders; it is similar to a tepee).