Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 30 December (BelTA) – However hard things may be Belarus will never spare any expense for children and mothers. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made the statement as he visited the birthing center of Minsk city teaching hospital No. 5 on 30 December, BelTA has learned.

Alexander Lukashenko remarked that if necessary, the funding available to Belarus government programs will be curtailed. “But we must not spare money for children and those, who give births. They should have everything,” he stressed.

The head of state was informed that the birth rate matched the morbidity rate in Belarus for the first time in 2015. Over the last ten years infant mortality rate dropped by 2.5 times, bringing Belarus on par with the world’s most developed nations. Not a single case of maternal mortality was registered in the last 12 months. Only one case was registered in the last five years. Alexander Lukashenko remarked it was a genuine victory. The President gave instructions to encourage those, who are to credit for this accomplishment. Such accomplishments are the most important thing regardless of the importance of production sector figures, he said.

The head of state was made familiar with the physical infrastructure used by the birthing center. It will comprise 11 divisions, including a gynecological department for emergency cases. The delivery rooms are fitted with modern equipment. The new obstetric and gynecologic wing will also house a rapid test lab with state-of-the-art equipment, rooms for physiotherapy treatment, functional diagnostics, and rooms for departments of the Belarusian State Medical University. About 300 women will be able to receive treatment in the new wing on a daily basis. Once the birthing center is opened, the number of potential births will increase from 3,000 to 5,500 per annum. It will be the largest birthing center in Minsk.