MINSK, 31 May (BelTA) – Belarus ranks 35th in the End of Childhood Index Ranking 2021 compiled by the Save the Children international charity group, Margarita Devyaltovskaya, head of the laboratory of children's and adolescents' health at the Mother and Child National Research Center, told reporters, BelTA has learned.
“Child welfare is a joint effort of many government agencies, including the child welfare system. We are among the world's leading countries in terms of infant mortality rate, which is record low in our country. This was achieved due to concerted effort of healthcare professionals and government agencies,” said Margarita Devyaltovskaya.
Performance indicators of Belarus' child welfare system are better than those in a number of countries, such as the UK, Denmark, Poland and the USA. “The infant mortality rate in Belarus, which is 2.6% per 1,000 live births, is record low. We have one of the lowest infant mortality rates. This is largely attributed to the creation of several levels of perinatal care in Belarus,” said the specialist.
“Belarus is harnessing the latest in healthcare technology to nurture babies with low and very low birth weight. About 1,000 children are born in Belarus every year thanks to assisted reproductive technology. About 500 free IVF attempts have been made in the Mother and Child National Research Center. The IVF efficiency exceeds 40%, that is, about 40 or more babies are born per 100 free IVF attempts,” the expert added.
She drew attention to the fact that the Mother and Child National Research Center has a breast milk bank that provides milk for all babies, including very premature ones, who receive treatment at the center.
“The child welfare system covers children of all ages. We work a lot with teenagers. There are more than 70 adolescent centers in the country. Their primary focus is to encourage young people to live a healthy lifestyle, prevent sexually transmitted infections, addiction to drugs, alcohol, tobacco,” said Margarita Devyaltovskaya.
