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Moldova’s infant death rate is 2.5 times higher than European average


https://www.ipn.md/en/moldovas-infant-death-rate-is-25-times-higher-than-european-average-7967_967468.html

A National Campaign to promote and improve health of children during the first year of life has been launched today by the Ministry of Health and the Association for Perinatal Medicine. The campaign themed “Childhood Without Risk” targets pregnant women, mothers and families with children younger than one year of age. Apart from its awareness-raising activity, the campaign will also include professional development seminars for medical practitioners and training courses for representatives of local authorities. According to the Ministry of Health, infant mortality rate could be lowered by 20-40% if 90% of the population knew how to distinguish the signs of health risks during the first year of life of children. In Moldova, the incidence of infant death during the first month of life is 68% of the total. One in five babies dies at home. The leading causes of death at home for infants are, in descending order, respiratory diseases, traumas and intoxications. Congenital malformations are closing the list. Despite a decrease in infant mortality over the last few years in Moldova, it is still 2.5 times higher than the European average, said Petru Stratulat, senior specialist in paediatrics and perinatology at the Health Ministry. To reach the European average, significant investment is needed to improve the services of the establishments that provide inpatient paediatric care, Petru Stratulat said. According to him, in the first half this year, the highest child mortality rate was recorded in Ceadyr-Lunga district, while Glodeni and Vulcanesti reported no cases of infant death. The Childhood Without Risk Campaign will run until 1 July 2008. The activities within the campaign are supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.