Press releases

MINSK, 26 April (BelTA) – Belarus will become a member of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), Belarus’ Healthcare Minister Valery Malashko told BelTA following his working meeting with FIGO Honorary Secretary General Gian Carlo Di Renzo and Secretary General of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine Diogo Ayres-de-Campos.

Belarus was invited to join FIGO thanks to its maternal and infant healthcare achievements. At the meeting Valery Malashko reaffirmed the country’s intention to join the federation. It is expected that Belarus will officially accede to FIGO during the World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Rio de Janeiro in autumn 2018. It is the single largest global congress on maternal and infant healthcare bringing together obstetricians, gynecologists and related health professionals from around the world.

It was noted at the meeting that thanks to a high level of competence Belarus can be used to train both practitioners and medical students from different countries. Simulation centers which are currently set up in the country will be of great help.

Belarus also expressed its intention to join the European Association of Perinatal Medicine. The issue will be considered in 2018.

“Belarus has established a strong OB/GYN service, has built the optimal multi-level system of maternal and child healthcare system and provided good material and technical basis of obstetrics facilities,” Valery Malashko said. The national healthcare system uses the modern technologies of medical genetics and prenatal diagnosis aimed at the early detection, prevention and correction of congenital malformations and hereditary diseases.

As a result, Belarus is now among the countries with the lowest infant and maternal mortality rate. Belarus was the 8th in the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) report on infant mortality 2016. This figure put the country in the group of nations with the lowest infant mortality rates in the worl. According to the minister, this place in the ranking implies hard work of obstetricians-gynecologists, neonatologists, paediatricians, together with doctors of other specialties.

On April 23-25 Minsk is playing host to the second international interdisciplinary congress “Problem of reproduction: innovative technologies in reproduction” which has brought together leading scientists in the field of reproductive health.