UNISEF Indicates Lower Infant Mortality Rate in Armenia

ARKA
Sep 5, 2008

YEREVAN, September 5. /ARKA/. A lower infant mortality rate has
been recorded in Armenia, stated Sheldon Yett, UNISEF Representative
in Armenia.

UNISEF indicates a lower infant mortality rate, particularly a lower
neonatal mortality rate, Yett told reporters.

He reported that neonatal mortality constitutes 70% of cases.

Among the main causes of infant mortality are defects, incompetent
medical personnel in remote regions, as well as lack of equipment –
problems that easily can be resolved.

Yett pointed out that the results of stamp sales activity recently
arranged in cooperation with Haypost will soon be summed up. The funds
will be directed to the training of medical personnel in Armenia’s
regions and purchase of necessary equipment.

Yett considers the action as success as, despite small funds and a
small number of copies, it aroused interest in the Armenian Diaspora.

UNISEF and the Haypost Company issued a stamp on the occasion of Child
Protection Day. One stamp costs 70 AMD (about $0.23), with 30 AMD
(about $0.1) transferred to the program of reducing infant mortality
in Armenia.

According to statistical data, 18,462 children were born in Armenia
from January 1 to July 1, 2008 – an increase of 2.1% as compared
with the corresponding period last year. In the first half of 2008,
261 stillbirths were registered in Armenia against 289 in the first
half last year.

A decrease of 13.7% in infant mortality was recorded in Armenia in
January-June 2008. The infant mortality rate was 10.9 per thousand
against 12.9 in the first half last year.