On the day of the 20th anniversary of the accident at Chernobyl NPP, President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko visited Bragin district in Gomel region which had been most affected by the Chernobyl disaster. This was the second day of the working trip of the Head of State to the Chernobyl-affected areas.
The President was informed of the radiological situation in Bragin district and the work on overcoming the aftereffects of the Chernobyl NPP accident that had been carried out. The President got familiarized with the socio-economic development of the region and the progress in the ongoing sowing campaign, with the state farm ‘Komarinsky’ being the case study.
The attention of the Head of State was focused on the issues of respecializing the agricultural production in the areas affected by the Chernobyl disaster and organizing normatively-clean agricultural production there.
Issues of health care policy, provision of specialized medical assistance to the public affected by the Chernobyl disaster, recruiting medical professionals to Bragin district medical institutions were the centre of attention during the visit by the President to Bragin central district hospital.
The Belarusian leader visited the children’s department and operative-resuscitation unit of the surgical department.
The President was keen to know in detail about the problems of the local health care institutions and the quality of the medial help provided to the public. The Head of State also listened to the proposals regarding possible improvements in health care services.
Talking to medical workers, the President said that he deems it necessary to resolve the issue of hospital treatment of mothers with children up to five years of age and gave the relevant directions to Vice-Prime Minister Alexander Kosinets.
Concluding the visit, the President answered questions from journalists.
Answering a question from the Japanese mass media representative, the President thanked the leaders of Japan and the people of that country for the colossal humanitarian help, including material, financial, science-related help, aimed at minimizing the aftereffects of the accident at Chernobyl NPP.
In his words, Belarus is prepared to cooperation with Japan in any areas in minimizing the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster. “We are the most reliable partner for Japan here, just as Japan is the most reliable partner for us. Because it is Belarus that has suffered most from the Chernobyl disaster. We are prepared to accept help from Japan and offer our newest elaborations to Japan, we do have them, because over the recent period of time we have done a lot in this area,” Alexander Lukashenko said. | 
