11 December, Vitebsk /Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. According to preliminary data, in January-November 2012, for the first time since 1993, the birth rate in Vitebsk will exceed mortality, the Deputy Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Vladimir Terentyev informed a BELTA correspondent. And if in the regional centre natural growth has only just emerged, in Novopolotsk it shows a tendency to consolidate: for the first time since 1996, according to data for January-October 2012, the oil city has recorded more births than deaths. In November, the positive trend continues. Overall for the region, the birth rate growth rate in January-October of the current year was 106.7% compared to the same period last year, and mortality - 93% compared to the same period. Of the 21 districts of the region, 18 show positive birth rate indicators. According to Vladimir Terentyev, the positive shifts have been achieved thanks to the implementation of a set of measures provided for by the national and regional demographic security programmes. In the Vitebsk region, along with executive committees and medical institutions, industrial enterprises and organisations are joining the programme implementation. Many of them include measures to support young families in their collective agreements, as well as incentive payments to employees for responsible attitude to their health. Medical examinations of the economically active population are yielding positive results, allowing diseases to be detected at early stages and medical assistance to be provided in a timely manner. The demographic security programme continues to be implemented in the region. Significant funds are envisaged in next year's budget, which is currently being formed, for the development of medicine. "Medicine will remain a priority sector in 2013, however, to solve the demographic problem, joint efforts are needed not only from doctors and government bodies, but also from employers, trade unions, and youth organisations," stressed Vladimir Terentyev.-0-

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