OREANDA-NEWS. On 24 August 2009 was announced, that three-day seminar to sum up neighboring territories' cooperation between the department of social security and public health services of the provincial board of Oulu and the Republic of Karelia has opened on August, 18 in the village of Kinerma of Pryazha region. Karelian and Finnish experts of bodies and establishments of public health services, education, social sphere take part in it.

According to Irina Bakunovich, head of the department of social support and organization of social service rendered to the population of the Ministry of Health and Social Development, cooperation has begun in 1992 and lasts for 17 years. In these years significant work on preventive maintenance of unhealthy phenomena, development of healthy life-style and security on both sides of the border has been performed. Participants of the seminar have noted that within the scope of cooperation between the neighbouring territories importance of work with families and work on protection of children's rights revealed. Ways of association of efforts in development of local systems of service-granting, health support, security of children and youth were discussed. At their meetings parties spoke about opportunities of further cooperation of controls and factors interfering it.

Discussion of problems of health, cooperation on creation of well-being and security, preventive work for the benefir of children and youth proceeded at sessions of working groups. Their participants spoke about next year's prospects of common work, support from the state, business communities and non-government organizations. In general conclusions attention was focused on diversification of cooperation in development of healthy living environment for children and youth.