Today we celebrate the National Day for Life, established by the Polish Parliament in 2004. On this occasion, a debate was organised at the Ministry of Family and Social Policy to reflect on the responsibility of state authorities, society and public opinion to protect and build respect for life.

– We are meeting in the company of people who not only talk about the family, but also act for its benefit – emphasised Minister Marlena Maląg. – The government has been trying to create a good climate for families for five years. This is evidenced by the successive and consistently introduced pro-family programmes. We continue to do so because the fight against the coronavirus pandemic does not relieve us of our responsibility.

According to Minister Maląg, great support is needed by families who decide to give birth to and raise a child with a disability. The “Pro-Life” programme provides them with help. The programme consists of activities carried out by various ministries. It is subject to evaluation this year. 

Changes to the “Pro Life” programme

Interdisciplinary Teams for the Diagnosis and Therapy of Perinatal Child Defects will be established to provide comprehensive support to the child, mother and their family during the perinatal period. The network of perinatal hospices will be completed so that there is at least one in each province. Hospice and palliative care services will be provided without limits. A portal and helpline will also be set up to provide information for parents and families expecting a child with a disability. Its task will be to identify possible therapeutic measures to be taken and the centres that will carry them out.

– We want to provide the kind of support that will be available to every family in need, quality support that guarantees respect for the dignity of the child and the mother, as well as ensuring their safety through holistic health care – said Minister Marlena Maląg.

Demography and the family

Barbara Socha, Deputy Minister for the Family, Government Plenipotentiary for Demographic Policy, highlighted the mutual relationship. – I realise that lockdown makes mutual relations difficult, which is particularly painful during the Easter period – said Deputy Minister Socha. – However, let us enjoy our families and maintain our relationships with them, because the greatest tragedy is loneliness. It mostly affects the elderly and has become such a challenge that some countries have already created ministries for loneliness.

Deputy Minister Socha assured that intensive work is underway on the Demographic Strategy, which will set out solutions to help us escape the demographic trap. One method is the promotion of the family and the creation of a good climate around it, which has been carried out successfully in Poland. It includes such projects as the “Family First” competition addressed to non-governmental organisations and the “Local government pro Familia” competition announced this year.

Family pays off

– Action in favour of the family pays off for the economy in every area of the state's functioning – argued columnist Magdalena Korzekwa-Kaliszuk. – Many of these, run by both NGOs and government, are complementary and have overlapping objectives.

She also encouraged the younger generation to strive to build lasting and faithful marital relationships. 

Respect for life

– Let us have respect for each other – urged Dorota Bojemska, President of the Family Council. – This will be the best expression of respect for life.

Referring to the “pro-life” programme, she stressed that the most important thing in it is to take care of a woman and give her a helping hand when she finds out about the illness of the child she is expecting. Therefore, the attitude of the doctors and the timely psychological support provided are important. – Abortion is the answer to the fear of women who find themselves in this situation – said Dorota Bojemska.

The debate was also attended by Jacek Sapa, member of the Family Council and President of the National Day for Life Foundation. – It is up to us to ensure that what is said today also has a dimension on the other days of the year – he said.