We have a lot of problems with our healthcare system in the Far North, tells Nazar. People live in remote areas with no access to medical services. Hospitals built in soviet times don’t meet necessary requirements anymore, there is lack of specialists in almost every field, says Nazar. For this reason having majored in surgery he has decided to have additional training in emergency medicine.

From 2009, Nazar had worked as a surgeon in three large but sparsely populated northern areas of Yakutia: Momsky, Eveno-Bytantaysky and Allaikhovsky districts with about 4.5, 2.8 and 3 thousand inhabitants on areas of 104.6, 52.3 and 107.3 thousand square kilometers accordingly.

Being the only surgeon in those regions, Nazar visited reindeer herders and hunters living in remote areas for health survey where he stayed for 2-3 months. The population there is scattered with the active population living outside the settlements. He says that air-medical service costs about 10 million rubles per year, and it is said to be cheaper than building and maintaining a surgery for hospital in Eveno-Bytantay. He mentions the high injury rate connected with traditional activities and necessity of emergency service in such areas.

However, in Allaikha region where he spent 2 months last year, they have modern hospital with well-equipped surgery room. But unfortunately there was lack of specialists because of remoteness, living conditions and poor salaries.  In 2006, I got a north2north scholarship and had a unique chance which changed my world-view. The experience I gained during my exchange studies helps me in my work and research. For example, Nikolay Shadrin, who I went to Umeå University with, now manages biochemical laboratory in Yakutsk. So, I am grateful to the University of the Arctic, Dean of Undergraduate Studies Claudia Fedorova and stuff of NEFU International Office for this experience, concludes Nazar Petrov.

Daria Burnasheva, Svetlana Ivanova
International Office
North-Eastern Federal University