Every year around 350 children under the age of four die in Norway, according to the Norwegian Association for Unexpected Child Death (LUB). Many of these families feel that the association is the most important place to get good support and help afterwards. This has also been the case for the couple in Leirfjord in Nordland. They experienced the nightmare of a lifetime when they lost little Wiljar in March 2020. Later, they received several apologies from both the municipality and the hospital for mistakes made when their son died in the mother’s womb. – We were basically forgotten or pushed away by the public. Kathrin was referred to a psychologist, but was initially rejected. – I didn’t have enough trauma, they said. I had to complain and complain to get help. She thinks it is unreasonable that the government wants to take money from the association that works to support the families left behind when a small child dies. – We are a rich country. This amount to us amounts to so very little. I simply think it is a shame that it is being cut. – This came completely out of the blue The cut to the National Association comes in the proposal for the national budget, which was presented this week. They lose almost NOK 2.3 million in earmarked grants. The support for the Patient Association, the Cancer Line and the Diabetes Association also disappears. Named recipients no longer receive money – must compete for support Item 79 Grant “The grant covers, among other things, grants for development and competence-enhancing measures within certain areas of the health service. It is proposed to discontinue the grants to the Cancer Line, the Diabetes Association, the Norwegian Patients’ Association and the National Association for Unexpected Child Death from 2023. The proposal is part of, and must be seen in connection with, the area review of individual grants to named recipients, cf. further discussion under chapter 2. It is proposed to move NOK 2 million to ch. 761, item 71 to strengthen the application-based subsidy for voluntary and non-profit organisations. It is further proposed to move NOK 7.7 million to chapter 762, item 21 for work with diabetes. 2.29 Budget and structural measures “Grant funds must normally be advertised and distributed on the basis of open application processes and known award criteria, so that more people have the opportunity to apply for grants (…) The government has therefore started work to reduce the number of named grant recipients in the national budget . (…) The government is proposing cuts of NOK 42.2 million in the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s area, in addition, a number of earmarked grants have been discontinued and incorporated into eligible schemes. » (From the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s state budget) The organizations are going from receiving earmarked funds to having to apply from a common pool. Trond Mathiesen is secretary general of the National Association for Unexpected Child Death. He is shocked by the government’s decision. – This came completely out of the blue. We had received no advance warning that this could happen. Consequently, we have to prepare a dramatic restructuring of our business at very short notice. Trond Mathiesen, secretary general of the National Association for Unexpected Child Death Photo: The National Association for Unexpected Child Death Will affect bereavement support services and research With a loss of income of approximately 20 percent, they will have to cut back on activity, according to Mathiesen. – This will affect our bereavement support offer, information and awareness measures, prevention of cot death and stillbirths, and support for research. Can you not apply for grants in competition with others? – There is only one grant scheme that is relevant for us. However, this is already severely underfunded. Different good causes and vulnerable groups will be pitted against each other to an even greater extent. The State Secretary: – Everyone should have the same opportunity to apply State Secretary Karl Kristian Bekeng in the Ministry of Health and Care says they have made the change because everyone should have the same opportunity to apply for grants. – Increased use of earmarking under the previous government has meant that there has been less and less money for the application-based schemes. We are now reversing this development. State Secretary Karl Kristian Bekeng Photo: Esten Borgos / BORGOS FOTO AS The government believes that grants must be used in a targeted manner to achieve goals of fair distribution and social equalisation. – We believe that everyone should have the same opportunity to apply for grant funding, and that it is the quality of the offer that determines how much funding you will receive. The full response from the State Secretary on the subsidy scheme Photo: Esten Borgos State Secretary Karl Kristian Bekeng has the following general response to the changes in the subsidy scheme: The government believes that subsidies must be used purposefully to achieve the goals of fair distribution and social equalisation. Grants are powerful instruments, and this government wants it to be clear from the start that we want a fairer distribution on the way to new goals and better services. The main rule is that grant funds must be advertised and distributed on the basis of open application processes and known award criteria. In this way, more people have the opportunity to apply for grants and different approaches to achieving goals and social effects can be assessed against each other. Increased use of earmarking under the previous government has meant that there has been less and less money for the application-based schemes. We are now reversing this trend. The government has no wish for any organizations to close down, but has now made changes to many earmarkings which means that those who had permanent positions in the state budget must now apply for grants. We believe that everyone should have the same opportunity to apply for grant funding, and that it is the quality of the offer that determines how much funding you will receive. It also means that we propose to remove the earmarks of important institutions in the area of mental health and substance abuse. At the same time, the funds are put into schemes from which they can apply for funds. (from e-mail to news) Kathrin Hübner reacts to the fact that the National Association for Unexpected Child Death is now losing its financial support in the state budget. Photo: Barbro Andersen / news Experienced “the worst in life” For the couple in Helgeland, the association has been a great help in coping with the grief. – The worst thing in life is losing your only child. A lost future cannot be compared to an old person dying. Then it is so important to have someone to talk to. – Someone who understands because they have experienced it themselves. Kathrin got brochures from the association in her hand on her way out of the hospital. But she was exhausted after being very ill. So it was a while before she called the association. She was immediately taken into the warmth and got a contact person who had also lost a child and who lives nearby. – We had many good conversations, eventually setting up the digital grief groups, it was in the middle of the corona era after all. There, Kathrin could share her experiences with others and hear others tell about how they had survived. This year, she has chosen to contribute more actively to the association. She thinks that makes sense. – I feel that I can be closer to my child that way. I will never get Wiljar back and can never have a future with him. But my experience can help others get the help they need. And she adds: – Maybe I can give advice on how to manage life after all. The dog Pumba has meant a lot after his son died. – It has been very difficult, but I feel that we are well on our way to getting back to a normal life. Photo: Private photo
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Got help from an association to grieve when the tragedy struck – now the government wants to cut financial support – news Nordland
