YEREVAN, DECEMBER 3, NOYAN TAPAN. A number of events will be held in Armenia on the occasion of the International Day of the Disabled, December 3. In particular, a concert-festivity will take place at Aram Khachatrian concert hall. 156 thousand 877 disabled are registered in Armenia at present. 8660 out of them are children below 18. And according to the data of 2006, 141 thousand 380 disabled lived in Armenia, approximately 8300 out of which are children below 18. Noyan Tapan correspondent was informed about it by the Department of Disabled and Old People's Problems of the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Issues. The disabled make nearly 4% of the total number of population and disabled women over 40% of the total number of disabled. 55% of the disabled is of able-bodied age, however, only 8% is employed. 44% disabled has secondary education and 14% higher education. The social care and service of the disabled is done in home conditions and in hospitals in Armena. Social service in home conditions is done by the Republican Center for Social Service of Lone Old People and Disabled. The disabled enjoy all privileges established by the RA legislation, including the fact that medical aid and service of all disabled is done within the framework of state order, disabled of first and second groups receive medicines free of charge and those of third group with 50% discount. It was also mentioned that 813m drams (more than 2.3m USD) was allocated by the 2007 state budget for purchasing and repairing prosthetic appliances of the disabled. 867m drams will be allocated from the 2008 state budget for that purpose.

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