HENCEFORTH REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS AND INFANT MORTALITY IN ARMENIA TO BE DONE IN ACCORDANCE WITH WHO ICD

YEREVAN, JUNE 16, NOYAN TAPAN. At the June 16 meeting, the Armenian
government made a decision on improving the situation regarding
the problems of the registration and classification of births and
infant mortality. According to the RA Government Information and
PR Department, the decision in particular was taken in accordance
with the requirements and norms of the World Health Organization’s
International Classification of Diseases (WHO ICD). The decision also
approved the main medical and demographic definitions used in the child
and mother health care, as well as a new order of the registration
and calculation of births and infant mortality. Chief Specialist of
the Medical Aid Organization Department of the RA Ministry of Health
Anahit Hovhannisian told reporters after the meeting that the adoption
of the new order will make the registration of births and infant
deaths more precise. Based on the decision, new ICD standards will
be put in practice, as well as new forms of registering births and
infant mortality will be developed. According to Anahit Hovhannisian,
infant mortality has shown a downward tendency in Armenia in recent
years – 11.8 thousand deaths were registered in 2003, whereas the
number declined to 11.6 thousand in 2004.