structural development

Health (under)supply
A contribution by Uwe Garack

Our society is changing, everyone can feel that. The demographic change in our district is omnipresent and poses great challenges for all of us.

Working life and the demands placed on the living environment are undergoing very dynamic change. Now I'm not a proven expert on these topics - but I've had the opportunity to get actively involved in the last few months.

The communities of Boxberg and Schleife are representative of the communities in the north of the district of Görlitz that want to shape the structural change. It is not only about the settlement of companies, but also about services of general interest. How can a municipality improve living and working conditions in the long term, what contribution does intact health care make to successful structural change? The association "Perspektive Boxberg eV" asked itself these questions. Numerous project ideas were developed in many discussions with local residents. A core issue was the development of a health center in Boxberg, which is intended to improve living and working conditions in Boxberg and its districts. With its central location and wide range of offers for medical care, prevention and old-age provision, the health center represents an elementary component of the future public services of the Boxberg community. The construction of the building alone is not enough. The main conceptual goal is supply close to where people live, using the example of the municipality of Boxberg/OL  

It is very similar in loop. The new village development concept was developed and created through active citizen participation. In several workshops and using modern methods, development goals of the municipality could be worked out together with the citizens. Securing medical and nursing care is defined as a primary goal in the village development concept of the community of Schleife in the area of ​​public services. Therefore, a health center was also initiated in Schleife as a contribution to structural change.  

It is no coincidence that the project names differ only in the addition of the community name. Both projects were created together with the Weißwasser hospital as part of the “model region for medical care”. The targets of the "Lausitz Vital" network were taken into account in the concepts. The issue of securing skilled workers plays a major role at "Lausitz Vital". Within the network, stakeholders have been and are receiving targeted advice on recruiting skilled workers, creating jobs, company orientation and development, and are supported in obtaining funding. In addition to the focus on skilled workers, the focus is also on the development of future-oriented, integrated solutions in the areas of care, prevention and care.  

Both projects have now been submitted as funding applications to the Saxon Agency for Structural Development. My colleagues from the ENO, Department II of the district and many other stakeholders actively supported and accompanied the project development of both health centers. We are now looking forward to a positive vote and rapid implementation – time is ticking.