The implementation of the National Project "New Life - New Quality of Maternity and Childhood " in Ukraine reduced the maternal and infant mortality practically to the EU level. This was stressed by Chief of motherhood, childhood and recreation facilities of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine Ms. Aliona Tereshchenko during a press conference dedicated to the results service activities maternity and child in 2013.

According to the operational data by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the rate of infant losses by the end of 2013 fell to 7.9 per 1 000 live births, while in 2012 it amounted to 8.6 and in 2011 - 9.1, the level of maternal losses declined by 21% since the beginning of the medical reform. During 2012-2013, 12 perinatal centers have been opened in Ukraine and they are expected to be opened in other regions as well during 2014.

Ukraine is committed to reach the Millennium Development Goals set forth by the UN Millennium Declaration, said UNFPA Assistant Representative for Ukraine Mr. Pavlo Zamostian during the briefing at the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

He also stressed that Ukraine is a recognized leader of the international community in the family planning sphere. "Ukraine is in fact the only country in Eastern Europe and Central Asia where the government programme envisage the state budget earmarking for contraceptives, which are vital for prevention of the severe maternal morbidity, mortality or the unwanted pregnancies," - said P.Zamostyan.

Ukraine's progress in the sphere of maternal and children health has been appraised by the representatives of UNICEF in Ukraine and the Office for the implementation of the Ukrainian-Swiss Mother and Child Health Programme.