Russia's Health Ministry To Hold Additional Screening Of Chernobyl Accident-hit Population

The Russian government has accepted the proposal of the emergency situations and health ministries on additional examination in 2002 of the populated places found in the zone of radioactive contamination as a result of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station. On Wednesday the Government Information Department reported that the screening will be held for getting information to determine average annual effective radiation dozes received by the locals in 2001 and accumulated doses in the 1986-2001 period. According to the governmental instruction, in the fourth quarter of 2001 the Finance Ministry will allocate over 5 million roubles from the government's reserve fund for such work.