Andriy Gordeyev

Head of Kherson oblast state administration

ACHIEVEMENTS AND PROSPECTS OF KHERSON REGION:

PUBLIC REPORT OF THE HEAD OF OBLAST STATE ADMINISTRATION IN 2017

The article reveals the achievements of Kherson oblast in 2017 which was a difficult period of hard work for the sake of the future of the region. There are still a lot of problematic issues in oblast which are solved day after day. At the same time there are achievements. The public report of the head of the oblast state administration (OSA) is an occasion for an objective and constructive analysis of the affairs in the oblast, the development of common concrete ways to improve the executive structures in cooperation with representative bodies in order to increase the level of living standards of the inhabitants of the region. In total, during 2017, 12728 people applied to the oblast state administration to resolve their problems, in particular by submitting 5687 personal and collective appeals, in which 5912 issues were raised. 1670 appeals were received from citizens who need social protection and support. During the reception of citizens, the head of the oblast state administration, his first deputy and deputies during 2017 accepted 267 people. In 2017, 5225 appeals were received from residents of Kherson and other oblasts and cities of Ukraine, which confirms the significance of effective work of the «hotline» of the head of the OSA for the community. Health care in 2017 was one of the main priorities in the OSA and aimed at ensuring the right of citizens to receive quality medical care. 28 centers of primary health care have been established in the oblast, including 5 in the consolidated local communities –Kalanchatsky, Kochubeyevsky, Velikokopanovsky, Vynohradivsky and Tavrichansky. As part of the centers, there are 165 outpatient clinics, 124 of which are located in rural areas. The region's education in 2017 was marked with the creation of another 8 school districts. At present, there are 12 supporting schools in the region: 4 in Chaplinsky rayon, 3 in Gornostaevsky, 2 in Velikolepechetskiy, 1 in Ivanivsky, Skadovsky rayons and Kochubeyev consolidated local community. These supporting schools have 22 branches. Altogether, one hundred percent of the children who reside at a distance of 3 km are organized in the region. Transportation system has 180 school buses, 25 of which were purchased in 2017. In the field of sports in 2017, the priority direction of development was the improvement of infrastructure, restoration and construction of new sports facilities. In 2017, 11 platforms with artificial surface for mini-football were opened in the region, and this year it is planned to build another, at least 16 such sites. Social protection of the population: 1753 internally displaced families benefited from the right to appoint monthly social targeted assistance in the Kherson region. The program of housing subsidies has been used by almost 208 thousand households. housing and communal services in 2017 marked the improvement of water supply in the settlements of the region through the construction and reconstruction of artesian wells and water supply networks. In the municipality of Komyshany of Kherson city, where water was unsuitable for use, 6 artesian wells were drilled; 10 km of water supply networks were built. Investment activity in the region during 2017 demonstrates a significant positive dynamics in various types and sectors of investment. For example, for the first time in recent years, positive dynamics of the growth rate of foreign direct investment has been achieved. Positive dynamics is also observed in the flow of capital investment in the development of the economy of the region. Construction in 2017 was provided by construction companies with almost 1 billion USD. The index of construction products amounted to 129.5%. The region's transport area provides almost 2,000 daily flights. The carriage of passengers is carried out by 23 carriers. The route network of the oblast consists of 465 intercity and suburban inter-regional bus routes. In 2017, 28.04 km of roads were repaired with the restoration of road surface and use of modern technologies of cold-resizing on road sections. Agriculture is one of the priority sectors of the oblast's economy. According to the results of 2017, the agricultural producers of the region increased production of grain and leguminous crops by 275 thousand tons. In 2017 Kherson region has traditionally taken the first place in Ukraine for the production of vegetables. Tourism and culture today mark Kherson region as one of the most visited territories of Ukraine. About 3.5 million tourists visited the area in 2016 and 2017. The defense capability in 2017 has been strengthened, operational response to the challenges and threats to national security has been secured, and peace is maintained on the territory of the Kherson region. Information security in the region falls under the informational influence of the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, in particular through radio and television. The main task of the oblast state administration under contemporary conditions is to hold information security activities in the oblast. Decentralization in the Kherson region formed totally 26 consolidated local communities, made local budgets independent from the state budget and created opportunities for planning of development of territories. Key words: Kherson oblast state administration, health protection, education, social protection of the population, housing and communal services, investment activity, construction, transport, agriculture, tourism and culture, defense capability, information security, decentralization.