Tbilisi local gov't allocates 7.5m GEL to vulnerable society

Socially vulnerable people living in Georgia’s capital city Tbilisi will benefit from special financial support to give them better access to healthcare and other support.

The local government announced 7.5 million GEL (about $3.8 million USD) would be allocated to implement 29 social welfare programs. The money would be paid by the city government. The money was allocated from the budget of the Municipal Agency of Healthcare and Social Services.  

Within these funds, the local government will allocate 1.4 million GEL for a therapeutic approach for patients suffering Hepatitis C.

Meanwhile, Tbilisi City Hall launched a new program which will see 20 patients with leukemia or other oncologic diseases offered financial assistance in 2015.

Tbilisi Mayor Davit Narmania said the first patient had already received their funding and they would travel to Istanbul, Turkey to get a bone marrow transplant on February 9.

On another note, one million GEL will be allocated to socially vulnerable families in support, Narmania said. The program will provide vulnerable families with 500 GEL financial aid for every newborn child in 2015.

Furthermore large socially vulnerable families living in Tbilisi will receive assistance ranging from 800-1,500 GEL for their third, fourth and subsequent children.

Meanwhile the new budget of Tbilisi City Hall gave special attention to people with disabilities. The city government allocated almost half a million GEL to fund a program that maintained community integration of people with disabilities. Through these efforts, people with significant disabilities under the age of 18 will receive 800 GEL financial assistance from Tbilisi City Hall.