BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

23/07/2007

Belarus kids get respite; Youngsters Visiting area until August

Travis, Heather / Osprey News Network; North Kent Leader

Big smiles hid the reality behind the health checkups for 40 visiting Belarus children exposed to Chernobyl radiation.

Two area doctors donated their time recently to check for signs of health problems in the Belarus children who are visiting with 36 host families throughout Sarnia-Lambton, Chatham-Kent and Essex County.

The children, who ranged in age from eight to 12, giggled as Dr. Tom Perkin of Blenheim and Dr. Bob Mayo of Wallaceburg conducted a general examination of their mouth, chest and ears at Wallaceburg District Secondary School. The children were also measured for height and weight and were asked to take a urine test.

"In the area they live they are exposed to some environmental risks we don't have," said Perkin.

For 11 years children living in areas affected by the Chernobyl disaster of 1986 when a radioactive cloud caused by an explosion in a Ukrainian nuclear plant contaminated the neighbouring country of Belarus have sought respite relief in Canada.

Perkin said the children are likely to show signs of dental problems or thyroid cancer from radiation exposure.

Local doctors and dentists are asked to donate their services to follow-up with treatment for the children identified as having health problems during Saturday's examination.

"I was keen to help," said Mayo. "It's a privilege to do it."

The youth are stationed with host families for eight weeks in the summer to improve their health and to be exposed to the English language and Canadian culture. Two Russian interpreters joined the group to act as a liaison between the families and the children.

For Demi Zakharchanka, 11, the trip also means he gets to eat a lot of hamburgers and play with friends his own age.

"I like coming," said Zakharchanka, who has stayed with the Clarke family of Blenheim for three years.

Described as a man of few words, Zakharchanka's host mother, Connie Clarke, said she bonded immediately with him. Clarke's two sons are close to Zakharchanka's age.

Clarke said Zakharchanka's health has noticeably improved since his first visit.

"From the beginning to the end of his (second) trip I noticed a big change in his health," said Clarke. "He no longer had puffiness in his face and neck."

Clarke said she was compelled to help out the children of Belarus. "Something said to me I have to do this," she said.

Krystina Kokhna, 17, has been visiting every summer for eight years. She was scared at first, but now she helps younger visitors through the transition.

"It was pretty scary. I didn't want to talk to anyone because I didn't know how."

Kokhna said she is no longer shy. She even returned in 2004 to study for a year through the Rotary exchange program at WDSS.

The Belarus group will be visiting until Aug. 12. Dave Morrison, board chairperson of the Lambton, Chatham-Kent, Essex Chernobyl Children's Fund, which sponsors the visits, said the organization is always looking for more host families.

"By doing this you have a better appreciation of what we have here," said Morrison. "With these kids you see everything through their eyes."

Source:

http://www.theobserver.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=623568&catname=Local%20News&classif=