In the Odessa apartment Oksana Kobel per month changing a thousand diapers.
Last summer, she caused a sensation in Ukraine, having given birth by caesarean section five kids, all the kids survived.
“At first I thought it was twins. Could never imagine that this could happen,” says Oksana Kobel.
She became a symbol of what Ukraine desperately needs is more mothers who give birth to more children.
These countries in Europe are losing the greatest number of people
Ukraine is a country in Europe which lost the greatest number of citizens.
After the country became independent following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992, its population has dropped by 9.5 million people. According to the careful “average” demographic to UN forecasts, Ukraine will lose another 20% of the population in the next 30 years.
This country is not alone. Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova face the same great interest rate reduction.
On the other side of the scale is Norway, UK and Sweden. It is expected that population growth in these countries will be the largest, according to UN projections 2015.
I’m probably too much of prayed to God
Five kids changed the life of Oksana in Odessa.
“We planned everything to the last minute. Therefore, the stress around children does not arise,” — says Oksana.
Grandma Olga moved here and is working day and night.
Oksana and grandmother with military precision run a family farm, where there is a large order.
“I prayed to God was a boy. But I guess I prayed too much,” smiles Granny.
In addition, one Christian organization has identified the girl who voluntarily helps out here during the day.
So us Europeans, it becomes less
Researchers cite several reasons for the sharp reduction of the population in most European countries, especially in Eastern and southern Europe.
Women are having fewer children. In the EU, according to Eurostat, one woman for life have an average of 1.58 newborns. And the level should be 2,1 newborns to avoid a decrease in population.
A huge amount of people leaving those countries where population decrease is the highest. These are the countries, such as Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria. 20 million Eastern Europeans left, according to the IMF, to Western Europe after the fall of the iron curtain.
Economic crisis and social conditions, especially in the East lead to high mortality. In addition, the women there get older before getting the opportunity to create a family.
For countries with the greatest population growth, such as Norway, Sweden and the UK, the main reason is record high migration, but also high fertility and usedonmost life expectancy.
“In 2060, no country in the EU will not have more than 1% of the world population,” writes the European Commission in a new white paper on the “future of Europe”.
Optimistic bureaucrats in Brussels are trying to use a shrinking and aging population of Europe as argument for preserving the unity of the EU.
Award supermama
Before Christmas Oksana and five kids Sasha, Dasha, Denis, David and Vladislav took in his Odessa apartment large hotel.
The mayor thoroughly corrupt, decrepit and beautiful city on the Black sea gave her absolutely free a large apartment.
Then appeared in the doorway of Elaine-happy the President Petro Poroshenko with a big press corps and a new car.
Only 3% of Ukrainians, according to the poll of the Fund for Democratic initiative, I believe that life is better after the revolution on the Maidan and the beginning of the reign Poroshenko.
According to the Institute KIIS, if the elections were held now, his party would garner only 5.6% of the votes
“Many people here in Odessa to help us, for us it is very important”, — says Oksana.
She uses Facebook-gruppen Odessa Five, Instagram and other social networks to get support.
“Our popularity is pretty good.”
Therefore, Ukraine needs supermom
Approximately 25% of the total reduction of the population of Ukraine explain the Russian annexation of the Crimea and war.
But the responsibility for the main decrease in the population after the fall of the Soviet Union lies with the Ukraine and the policy of this country.
Three years later, after the Maidan revolution, 76% of Ukrainians, according to Bloomberg, say that their living standards fell even more in 2016.
“Ukraine is dying a slow death”, concludes the National Interest.
The falling birth rate and a decrease in the number of young lead to that to become harder to take care of the elderly and to pay their pensions. When gradually ageing workforce, it on average is also less productive.
“Those who work now pay pensioners. To become also less than those who deals with social security for the elderly,” says researcher Ranveig, Calder HART (Hart Rannveig Kaldager) of the Department of sociology and geography society of the University of Oslo.
“Spend less on such things as kindergartens and schools, and in 20 years will work for a generation of people, whose number will be less,” she says.
“I think a lot of it is difficult nineties. Then it was very hard. I hope that now everything will change. When we walk down the street, I see more strollers than before”, — says Oksana.
So European countries are trying to slow down the decrease in the population
Many European countries are trying to take small and large steps to change the demographic trend:
• This year Italy has introduced a “day of fertility” with a controversial campaign against women and Spain has appointed a special Minister, whose task is to force the Spaniards to have children.
In Russia, Putin is spending large amounts on maternity capital. The birth rate is currently increased, but, nevertheless, Russia also faces a demographic disaster.
In many countries, the fall in population caused a new debate on the right to abortion and birth control. Pope Francis in February called on the Vatican to stop the phenomenon, which the Catholic Church calls a possible “biological destruction” of Europe.
Most of the time, turning their eyes to France, where the highest birth rate in Europe.
The experience of France and Scandinavia shows that the most effective measure is to attract more women into productive life at the same time improving conditions for children and subsidies for child care.
“Interestingly, in countries with the highest female employment, the highest birth rate,” says Gilles Pizon (Gilles Pison) from the National Institute of demographic studies in an interview with Le Parisien.
The doctor’s face changed, looking at the screen
Oksana thought she had the twins, when the ninth week came to the doctor for a regular ultrasound study.
“My doctor changed countenance and turned pale, looking at the screen. She couldn’t believe what I saw on the monitor. When she counted to three, I asked how the changes affect its staff”, — says Oksana.
And the doctor found two more.
Two girls and three boys weighing from 1 100 to 1 800 grams was born by caesarean section after 32 weeks.
Grandma is an optimist, Oksana — the realist
The one who is in Odessa took to fuss with the emergence of five kids calmly, was their four year old sister Alice.
“For her it’s like getting a few dolls. She takes for granted that life has changed completely. Children are good at it,” says Oksana.
Aftenposten: What do you think about the future of children?
Grandma: I’m an optimist. I think everything will be better, if only to stop the war.
Oksana: I’m more of a realist. No one can say what will happen in Ukraine tomorrow.
