A decrease in mortality in the working-age population has been observed in all districts of the Vitebsk region

A decrease in the number of deaths of working-age people was noted in 2012 in all districts of the Vitebsk region, as reported to a BELTA correspondent by the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Healthcare Department.

According to preliminary data, for 2012, the mortality rate of the working-age population was 5.2 ppm per 1 thousand working-age population, compared to 6.2 ppm in 2011. Medical professionals state a decrease in the number of deaths from all major socially significant diseases. As a result of the measures taken to reduce mortality from external causes, the number of deaths from industrial injuries in the region's organizations has been reduced by almost half, the number of suicides has decreased by more than 40%, cases of death from alcohol poisoning and its surrogates have decreased by 26.6%, the number of deaths in fires has decreased by 17.4%, and in road traffic accidents by 3.2%.

In 2012, the birth rate in the region increased from 10.2 ppm in 2011 to 10.9 ppm. The largest number of births was recorded in Lepel, Glubokoye, Liozno, and Postavy districts, and in Vitebsk and Novopolotsk, the birth rate exceeded the mortality rate. However, the birth rate in the region does not ensure the natural reproduction of the population.

Child mortality from external causes is of particular concern. In 2012, an increase in the number of child deaths in road traffic accidents and fires was noted in the region. Medical professionals consider the task of reducing the proportion of external causes in the structure of working-age mortality to be relevant for the region. "External causes" are among the top three main causes of general population mortality and account for 11.2%, and among the working-age population, they are the cause of death for every third person.

In 2013, the region will continue to implement the regional demographic security program. The Executive Committee has decided to take additional measures to prevent fires: inspecting the fire safety condition of housing for citizens belonging to groups with increased social risk. Local authorities, together with heads of organizations, will continue to work on creating safe working conditions and increasing motivation for maintaining and strengthening employees' health. In February of the current year, the region will host the preventive campaign "Winter Road," aimed at preventing accidents. In the major cities of the region, traffic police officers intend to conduct massive operations to identify and record violations of pedestrian crossing rules.