Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 21 October (BelTA) – The smoothly operating system designed to protect the health of mothers and their children is one of the most vivid social accomplishments of Belarus. Belarusian Healthcare Minister Vasily Zharko made the statement during the WHO European ministerial conference on the life-course approach to health promotion in Minsk on 21 October, BelTA has learned. The conference was held in the context of the World Health Organization’s health policy framework Health 2020.

The official said: “The maternal and child health protection system in our country is one of the brightest social accomplishments. As far as access to reproductive health protection services is concerned, Belarus is on par with France, Luxembourg, Finland, and is one of the world’s top 50 countries in pregnancy management and childbirth organization by trained medical personnel.” According to the Belarusian Healthcare Minister, these accomplishments have been possible thanks to the support of the head of state and the creation of different levels of the perinatal care system. The latter has made possible the provision of medical aid to pregnant women and newly-born babies in conditions extremely conducive to the preservation of their lives and health.

The Minister noted that the latest technologies allow the survival of babies weighing 500-1,000g. The survival rate of babies with an extremely low mass has reached 82%. In his words, apart from preventing infant deaths the Belarusian healthcare system now takes good care of the baby’s consequent life. An entire set of mutually related organizational, medical, and diagnostic operations is required for that. Belarus has managed to offer high-quality medical aid to women and children, to monitor every pregnancy. Virtually all the babies are born with assistance of qualified personnel.

Belarus is 26^th on the list of countries with the most comfortable maternity conditions.

The WHO European ministerial conference is scheduled to take place in the headquarters of the National Olympic Committee in Minsk on 21-22 October. The event confirms the WHO’s high appreciation of the Belarusian healthcare system. The conference is focused on three key topics: the need to act preemptively, act on time, and act together.