HOW MUCH DOES A CHILD COST?

From Adevarul Oct. 5, 2006

HOW MUCH DOES A CHILD COST?
By: Val Valcu

Among seven children who were born in Cluj and Constanta, only 2 are still holding onto life. For doctors this is a simple statistic. Babies born prematurely in Romania have a 15% chance to survive. If they live for a week, their chances of survival are 20%. For the authorities, these statistics do not seem to have any importance. Confronted with an infant mortality rate which is as high as many African states, Romania is, nevertheless, under pressure to report an infant mortality rate which is more in line with European levels. It needs to be known that infant mortality numbers are not influenced by extreme cases nor by occasional situations which may happen once per year. Thousands of children have died, many anonymously, because the midwives from the villages did not have anything with which to wash their hands. Also, many times, the ambulance didn't arrive at the top of the mountain while other times parents fed their newborns bread and water which were poisoned with nitrates. Beyond the drama of individual cases, what has Romanian society lost in its war against its smallest citizens? In other words, what really is the value of the life of a child? Monetarily speaking, one could begin with the sums which are necessary for bringing the child into this world. Blood tests during the pregnancy cost between 100 and 500 euros ($130-650). The birth itself in a private clinic will cost between $1900 and $2500. Those who choose the classic system, that is with bribe money in an envelope, will find that they will pay approximately the same amount. Why is it that only half of all mothers are seen for the first time by a doctor on the day they give birth? Why is it that 80% have not had a sonogram which in Romania only costs $1? Many Romanian families have sold their houses and cars in order for their child to have an operation abroad. Others, and probably many more, have put their children to work at hard labor at the age of 10 years so that the parents can have money for alcohol.

What value are Romanian children given by the state in which they are born? Demographic experts point out that the population will grow older and smaller. In 2050 there will be only 16 million Romanians in the country, and a working adult will be working to support 9 people. In order to prevent a crisis, these Romanian demographic experts say that birth rates must be increased. Salaries for mothers and babies which are supposed to be introduced in 2007, have been shown to be efficient in Western Europe, but is this the solution to the problem? Are we interested in the number of Romanians or in their quality of life? If the state would invest in the health and education of Romanian children, perhaps a Romanian worker in 2050 will be able to support 9 people. If not, then the retirees of tomorrow will not have a very good life. Romanians depart for Italy because there they can earn money to buy a house. After Jan. 1, 2007, the local authorities will strive to construct kindergartens for children and to give them medical insurance. If the state does not take measures which view society as a whole, and if Romanians don't sense that things are going better, they will depart. People will go to the business owner to work abroad, and the little ones will be stolen from maternity hospitals and sold on the internet for adoption.