On 29th June, Mission Armenia NGO
President Hripsime Kirakosyan accepted the representatives of the UN Economic
Commission for Europe, who came to Armenia by the invitation of RA Ministry of
Labor and Social Issues and with the mission of fact-finding in the area of
aging.
Before going over the topics of aging and starting the
discussion on the elderly issues in Armenia, guests were presented to ?Mission
Armenia? activities starting from ancient times; particularly Organization?s
role and significance in the area of providing community based social services,
the importance and essence of those services, as well as the geographical
representativeness almost through all the territory of the RA were presented.
After that plenty of topics were discussed, which relate to the issues of
population aging. President H. Kirakosyan expressed her concerns towards a
number of questions, and also made some proposals which have realistic grounds
for implementation.
?It is desired to have professional social state system,
which does not exist in our country. When indicating that we do not have
alternative to the system we created neither in the state nor in the public
sector, these are not self-advertisement words, plus this situation is
undesirable. We do not wish to be an oasis. Mission Armenia, being a rather
experienced organization in the area of providing community based social
services, shares its experience with state, particularly with the corresponding
state infrastructures. Moreover we do not wish to be a close system. We have
enough experience, nevertheless there are few resources to employ that
experience and efforts to achieve more effectiveness?, pointed out H. Kirakosyan.
?We signify the role of social work, which will lift the
issues of socially vulnerable and poor groups and precisely evaluate their
needs. Nowadays, in our reality, we face with the case when state social
services employees provide solely administrative services to those vulnerable
and indigent groups. They do not realize anything; not visits to households, not
care services, not rights protection, not other kind social functions. Another
fact worries as well: elderly issues are rarely discussed than those for other
age groups. We do not have elderly-physicians, gerontologists, however their
necessity and requirement is really noticeable. Sick, bedridden, lone or
isolated elderly have difficulties in utilizing healthcare services either under
financial or psycho-moral frameworks?. As it was stated by the organization
president, along with all of this, the fact that starting from 2007 the RA
authorities have been partially financing Mission Armenia projects directed
towards the elderly, is positive and encouraging.
?We are cooperating with the RA government, Ministry of Labor
and Social Issues, also with the local self-governing bodies. In regard to the
latter, the vulnerable groups from the communities that they govern are just
under their responsibility?, expressed her opinion organization?s President,
?however as it is known, SGB-s have very small budget, although providing
support to the vulnerable groups does not bear a mandatory nature, but a
voluntary one?.
One of Mrs. Kirakosyan?s proposals is the following: each
community shall realize assessment of own needs. SGB?s should share their budget
based on the results of that evaluation. Communities shall have social workers,
who will provide to vulnerable groups various social services. SGB-s will carry
out practical and consistent work for the vulnerable groups from their
community. With regard to the Ministry of Labor and Social Issues, then it shall
work out strategical plans and separate tactics and methodologies.
According to H. Kirakosyan, contrary to the above mentioned,
Mission Armenia?s partnership with the community is grounded with the good will
and in finding cooperation prospects with the individuals.
?This partnership is not regulated through legislative field, which will enable
to avoid any kind of willfulness that we meet in our reality very often and our
organization will keep from the status of claimant, grounding the relationship
with the community authorities on partnership-cooperative basis?, cited
organization?s president.
In the end of the meeting the role of social worker and
his/her status was discussed as well. Social workers are not protected by laws,
do not have privileges and that do not find professional jobs in the labor
market, in addition the existing jobs are low paid. Nowadays, our society lacks
of formed culture in providing social services and social work, moreover, their
role and significance is ignored and that kind of work is considered
dishonorable, which is yet a key precondition of social welfare in the developed countries.
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