Infant mortality in Belarus is CIS lowest, Vasiliy Zharko says

Today we see positive demographic trends in Belarus, Health Minister Vasiliy Zharko told reporters on January 22. According to the minister, in 2007, the birth rate was 8% up, the death rate - 4% down. The infant mortality is 5.5 ppm, one of the lowest among the other CIS countries, the minister noted. By 2010, the infant mortality rate is expected to reach 4 per mille. The perinatal mortality rate reduced from 7.8 ppm to 5.8 ppm. The maternal mortality rate is 5.8 ppm, two times down as against 2006. The main goals of the national health care system are to preserve these positive trends and to provide the population with accessible and qualitative medical aid, the minister highlighted.

Print version