Kazakhstan has had an increase in the birth rate and decease in mortality rate, Tengrinews reports citing the Director of the Center of Obstetric, Gynecology and Perinatology of Almaty Talgat Kudaibergenov.

“The number of births is nearing 400 thousand a year, which certainly is a good thing. The demographic situation in Kazakhstan is positive. While the birth rate has been increasing, the death rate has been decreasing. Over the past 10 years, the birth rate has gone up by 25%,” Kudaibergenov said.

Moreover, over the past 5 years, according to the Director of the Center, the survival rate among prematurely born babies under 1500 grams has increased by 30%.

“The death rate among newborns in the first 7 days has gone down two and half times. That is the best indicator; we can save and nurse newborns. We have put a lot of effort into that,” Kudaibergenov said.

He added that the maternal mortality rate has decreased three times and newborn mortality has gone down 1.6 times. “In 2009, the rate was 40 per 1 thousand live born, whereas in 2013 it is 12.5 per 1 thousand live born babies. The newborn mortality rate was 20.4 per 1 thousand new borns in 2008, in 2013 it made 11.5 per 1 thousand. It is a great achievement,” Kudaibergenov concluded.

Reporting by Altynai Zhumzhumina. Writing by Gyuzel Kamalova