Mother's day is a holiday, where women are traditionally congratulated, become mothers and have achieved success in raising children.

The holiday provides an opportunity to emphasize the importance and status of the mother, the importance of the role of women – mothers in ensuring demographic security and well-being of our country.

In recent years, a lot has been done in the republic to increase the level of social and medical protection of the mother..

To protect and empower mothers and children, in the interests of the family, Reform of national legislation continues successfully.

Protection of women's health and protection of motherhood have become one of the main tasks of state policy, important component of health, of particular importance in shaping the health of the nation.

A system for protecting women's rights has been formed in the Republic of Belarus – mothers' health care, guaranteed availability, the state nature of the provision of highly qualified medical care has been preserved, high quality and efficiency are ensured.

The effectiveness of health care delivery is convincing at the European and international level.

Solving specific tasks, aimed at improving the health of women and children, determined by the current state target programs, secured resources and interdepartmental integrated execution and control.

Health protection of women and children in the republic is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, The Laws of the Republic of Belarus "On Health Care", "On the Rights of the Child", The Marriage and Family Code and other regulatory legal acts.

Protection of the reproductive health of the population, creating conditions for the birth of healthy children, disability prevention, reduction infant, child and maternal mortality in the country, are of particular public importance, and became the criteria for the effectiveness of the activities of governing bodies and health organizations.

Work has been carried out in the republic to create republican medical centers, which are designed to solve the main task - to improve the availability and quality of the provision of highly specialized medical care to women throughout the republic through the concentration and implementation of modern, high-tech methods of diagnosis and treatment.

Thanks to the ongoing complex of measures to protect reproductive health, beginning with 2003 year in the republic there is an increase in the birth rate since 9,0 to 12,2 on 1000 population in 2012. (on 35 %). The current birth rate in the Republic of Belarus is comparable to that of European countries. The total fertility rate is below the level of simple reproduction and amounted to 2012 r. 1,62. Over the past twelve years, the maternal mortality rate in the republic has decreased from 21,3 in 2000 r. to 0,9 on 100000 live births in 2012 year, including from direct obstetric reasons (6,4 and 0,9 respectively) and indirect reasons (14,9 and 0,0 respectively).

Beginning with 2001 r. growth has stopped, and the morbidity of pregnant women in the republic has stabilized.

IN 2012 r. average 73 women from 100 have had a disease during pregnancy.

In recent years, there has been a positive trend towards an increase in the proportion of normal births.. So in the Republic of Belarus in 2012 r. 38,9% childbirth proceeded without any complications (2000 r. – 25%).

Stabilized and does not exceed 4,0% the proportion of premature birth.

In the Republic of Belarus in 2012 year the absolute number of abortions (according to the institutions of the Ministry of Health) made up 24616 cases (2000 r. – 116345 cases), abortion rate per 1000 women of fertile age - 10,34 (2000 r. – 44,0‰). These indicators are comparable to those in economically developed countries..

Solving complex medical, social and ethical problems of abortion in the Republic of Belarus, as in the world in general, carried out within the framework of the Concept for the implementation of the right to reproductive choice, reproductive health and family planning, defined by human rights documents and documents of the World Health Organization.

Currently, the legislation of the Republic of Belarus defines the legal basis for medical activities in family planning and regulation of human reproductive function..

In accordance with Article 27 Of the Law on Health Care of the Republic of Belarus dated 18 june 1993 r. as amended by the Law of the Republic of Belarus dated 20 june 2008 r. a woman is given an independent right in deciding the issue of motherhood.

Reproductive health care, the activities of almost the entire network and personnel of the obstetric and gynecological service in the country are aimed at preventing abortion – from feldsher-obstetric points, antenatal clinics to family planning and reproduction centers.

Prevention of abortion is a priority, aimed at protecting reproductive health and the birth of healthy children. An important organizational measure in this regard is the creation of youth centers, centers for reproductive health and rehabilitation, medical and social assistance, crisis centers, trust services for the provision of medical, social and psychological assistance to adolescents and youth.

Confidential and accessible services are provided, friendly to adolescents and young people. Services for women, survivors.

Organizational work to protect the reproductive health of the population is carried out in the Republic of Belarus in close interagency cooperation.

The state has created conditions, allowing women to combine work with pregnancy and motherhood, legal protection provided, material and moral support for motherhood, occupational Safety and Health.

An incentive allowance for pregnant women has been introduced in the republic, registered in the antenatal clinic before 12 weeks of pregnancy and fully complying with the recommendations of doctors.

Maternity hospitals work according to the system of joint stay of mother and child, breastfeeding principles are widely supported. 100 % women give birth in the presence of qualified medical personnel and almost all pregnant women (99,9 %) give birth in a medical facility.

Currently 85% newborns are with their mothers immediately after birth.

For a long time, work has been carried out in Belarus to promote and encourage breastfeeding, as one of the recognized and most effective health promotion measures, as children, and women.

Completed work on the creation of republican medical centers, which are designed to solve the main problem – improving the availability and quality of the provision of highly specialized medical care to women and children throughout the republic through the concentration and implementation of modern, high-tech methods of diagnosis and treatment.

A set of measures has been implemented to protect maternal health and improve the reproductive health of the population through the development of high-tech types of medical care, such as, fetal microinvasive surgery in obstetrics and endoscopic in gynecology, surgical cell transplantation with assisted reproductive technologies, as well as blood-saving and substitution therapy in obstetrics.

The present period is characterized by the consolidation of scientific potential with practical health care to solve qualitatively new problems of providing the female population with specialized types of medical care and strengthening the achievements of safe motherhood..

Chief obstetrician - gynecologist Soroka S.A..

Ministry of Health

The Republic of Belarus