NUCLEAR POWER IN BELARUS AND WORLDWIDE
The WHO European Ministerial Conference ended in Minsk. It was the first time that Belarus hosted such a high-level forum in the field of health. About 200 participants, including ministers and their deputies, heads of health organizations and WHO officials discussed three key points: acting early, acting appropriately and acting together. These points form a life-course approach. WHO Regional Director for Europe Zsuzsanna Jakab talks about the results of this large-scale conference.
Ms Jakab, the conference ended with the signing of the Minsk Declaration. How relevant is this document for all countries of the WHO Regional Office for Europe?
The Declaration is a unique document that describes the life-course principle. The Minsk Declaration will serve as a guarantor of the openness, the willingness of the parties to share their experience and commitment to joint efforts to improve health at all stages of human life. We reviewed the synergy of such areas as economy, human well-being and health, and their interaction at the stages of life. This document will also help us achieve the sustainable development goals that were adopted by the UN General Assembly in September this year.
The fact that the document has been signed in Minsk is important for Belarus. We will always remember about Minsk thanks to the name of the document, the Minsk Declaration. Your country, I hope, will always be ready to support us in the implementation of our policy, taking into account all stages of human life.
Is there a country whose experience is used as an example of a life-course approach?
It is difficult to answer this question as all the countries are engaged in the process. However, no country could have implemented this approach in full yet. Everyone does their best but there are still no best practices, advanced experience and know-hows. The current conference provided a platform for discussion. I think in two or three years we will have the advanced experience and best practices we need. I hope that Belarus will be one of the leading countries in this area.
One more document was signed at the ministerial conference in Minsk. It is an agreement between the WHO and the Healthcare Ministry of Belarus. What principles have been laid down in the document?
It is a two-year bilateral agreement that covers a wide range of issues we are going to address together. First of all, it is non-communicable diseases (NCDs). I have already said that Belarus has made a great headway in its healthcare, in particular in addressing NCD-related issues as well as in combating risk factors such as smoking and alcohol. I was very happy to learn that the venues that hosted the 2014 IIHF World Championship in Minsk were declared smoking-free zones. Now we will be thinking of what else can be done to ban smoking in all public places in Belarus. The growing consumption of alcohol is another problem. In this respect, we should probably increase prices, limit the access to the market, improve labeling, etc.
The document also touches on some other priorities, including ones related to international cooperation and provision of emergency management assistance, intersectoral cooperation and interaction between the Belarusian Healthcare Ministry and different agencies and organizations on the international level.
International experts praise Belarus' healthcare accomplishments. What do you think we should further focus our attention on?
Indeed, you have achieved significant progress, first of all, in reducing the maternal and infant mortality rates. We are also impressed with your achievements in combating HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and other diseases. I would advice the Republic of Belarus to concentrate its attention on fighting tobacco smoking. This will promote public health.
In general, the WHO European Ministerial Conference can be considered a major achievement earned by the efforts of many people. I want to thank the Belarusian government and Belarusian Healthcare Minister Vasily Zharko for the assistance in the organization of the forum. I express special gratitude to the head of state for the warm welcome.
Svetlana VASILEVSKAYA,
BelTA
