Opinions & Interviews
WHO: Belarus can help other countries develop healthcare systems
MINSK, 16 March (BelTA) – Belarus can help other countries develop their healthcare systems, BelTA learned from Oleg Chestnov, WHO’s Assistant Director-General for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health.
“We would like to praise your achievements and emphasize the advantages of the Belarusian healthcare system. For example, today I have taken a look at the cancer registry [a resource containing data on new and previously registered cases of cancer in Belarus]. Not every country has such a registry. For many countries this is a distant future. I believe that Belarus can help other countries develop their healthcare systems,” Oleg Chestnov said.
At the same time, he said that there are some things that need improvement. Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality in Belarus. Many people die from heart attacks and strokes. Such diseases can be prevented by regular measuring of blood pressure, Oleg Chestnov believes.
Oncological diseases are another major problem. “There is a wider range of tools for treatment of cardiovascular diseases. We can promote preventive behaviors and provide effective medical services, and fewer people will be dying from such diseases,” Oleg Chestnov stressed.
WHO and the Belarusian Health Ministry have plans to establish cooperation that will benefit both Belarus and the global healthcare system, the WHO’s Assistant Director-General noted. For example, the sides are set to implement a number of projects, including for early detection of cervical cancer. The projects will be carried out in Belarus and funded through EU and Russian grants. The EU grant will be used for cancer screening, and the Russian one for risk factors assessment.
A delegation of the World Health Organization is on a visit in Minsk on 15-17 March. The experts have come to Belarus to discuss matters related to the control of noncommunicable diseases. Besides, they are expected to consider the possibility of providing Belarus with technical aid to improve control over the risk factors.
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