Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 9 October (BelTA) – The achievements of Belarus in the protection of maternity and childhood are praised all over the world, Healthcare Minister Vasily Zharko told reporters as he took part in the CIS Congress of Pediatricians in Minsk on 9 October, BelTA has learned.

“The fact that the congress in held in Belarus is the acknowledgement of the country’s achievements in the protection of maternity and childhood . We are not ashamed of our maternity and childhood protection system and the entire healthcare industry,” Vasily Zharko said.

Belarus is among the leaders in reducing maternal and child mortality. “These figures correspond with the level of developed countries. Our efforts are praised in Europe and worldwide,” the Healthcare Minister said. According to Vasily Zharko, it was possible thanks to the good organization of work and attention of the country’s authorities. In particular, old hospitals were renovated, new ones were built, medical centers were modernized.

The minister said that the birth rate is increasing in Belarus. Minsk and Brest Oblast have a population increase. ”As for the whole country, a 1,600-strong increase in birth rate will help overlap death rate. We will try to reach the zero balance without migration by the end of the year,” he said.

The 6^th CIS Congress of Pediatricians “Child and Society: Issues of Health, Development and Nutrition” takes place in Belarus for the first time. Partaking in the forum are over 250 leading pediatricians from the CIS and other countries. Previously, the forum was held in Kiev (2009), Astana (2010), Moscow (2011), Lvov (2012) and Chisinau (2013).

Participants of the congress discuss key issues of modern pediatrics. Thee include approaches to providing medical assistance, demographic challenges and the way to respond to them, ways to improve pediatric care, scientific and practical aspects of preventive programs in pediatrics, child care and feeding in modern-day conditions, nutrition of pregnant and breast-feeding women.