The number of abortions in the Vitebsk region is decreasing annually. This was reported by Yuri Derkach, Head of the Main Department for Healthcare of the Regional Executive Committee, member of the Standing Commission of the Council of the Republic for Education, Science, Culture and Social Development, at the conference "Problems of Medical Ethics in the Modern World," as reported by a BELTA correspondent.
"A systematic approach in this area has shown its high effectiveness. The number of abortions in the region per 1,000 women of fertile age is decreasing annually; according to the results of 2018, this indicator decreased to 11 per mille," noted Yuri Derkach.
"In the Vitebsk region, 100% pre-abortion counselling is provided, "Mom School" trainings are conducted, along with consultations on the physiology of pregnancy, the prenatal period, childbirth, and family relationships. Comprehensive monitoring of women during pregnancy is carried out at the Regional Clinical Maternity Hospital and at inter-district maternity hospitals in Orsha and Novopolotsk," noted the Head of the Main Department for Healthcare of the Regional Executive Committee.
In addition, youth health centres operate in Vitebsk, Orsha, Polotsk, and Novopolotsk. Their work is aimed at improving physical and reproductive health, strengthening the institution of the family, and creating prerequisites for increasing the birth rate and life expectancy.
Yuri Derkach also touched upon the issue of developing assisted reproductive technologies in Belarus. According to official statistics, every fifth married couple in the country needs infertility treatment. Assisted reproductive technology programmes have been operating in Belarus since the late 1990s. The main problematic issues regarding their use were resolved with the adoption of the Law on Assisted Reproductive Technologies in 2012. It defined the legal and organisational foundations for the use of in vitro fertilisation, artificial insemination, and surrogacy. "The progressiveness of this document is hard to overestimate," said Yuri Derkach. "Recently, on May 31, the Council of the Republic approved amendments to the Law on Assisted Reproductive Technologies, which were developed taking into account international practice and public appeals. Currently, the issue of providing married couples with the opportunity to undergo one IVF procedure free of charge is being considered."