PM urges to bring down maternal and infant mortality in Kazakhstan

Said Akhmetov of the situation, addressing Health Minister Salidat Kairbekova at the Government's meeting on Tuesday: "Maternal and child mortality in Kazakhstan should be considered as an emergency situation, a disaster. Each case should be analyzed and reviewed in details."

Despite annual reduction of maternal and infant mortality, the situation is still quite serious and far from being OK in the Central Asian republic.

"We've achieved remarkable decrease in maternal and infant deaths - the rates have declined fourfold and are the lowest since 1970. However, the figures are still high. The Health Ministry and the regions should monitor the situation closely," Akhmetov summed up.

Salidat Kairbekova, in her turn, reported that maternal and child mortality rates in Kazakhstan in the 1H of 2013 decreased on 15.2% and 17.7% respectively.