Official Speeches and Remarks by Ambassador Anne E. Derse

US Ambassador’s remarks at the Demographic and Health Survey Seminar

June 20, 2008

Honorable chairman Mr. Arif Veliyev, dear ladies and gentlemen,

I am honored to join you today for the National Seminar on the Demographic and Health Survey.  Reliable health and demographic data is the foundation for informed decision-making by public officials in every country.  With this in mind, the State Statistical Committee, USAID and UNICEF carried out a comprehensive Demographic and Health Survey to provide the Government of Azerbaijan with a valuable and effective tool for advancing critical health reforms in an informed manner.

The Demographic and Health Survey is one of USAID’s global efforts.  To date, USAID has conducted this survey in many countries in Europe and Asia, and, indeed, around the world.  The Demographic and Health Survey data complements the data collected through national information systems.  Comprehensive information about health indicators and population behavior is the key to developing policies that will improve standards of living and health outcomes.  This data is also critical to ongoing efforts to monitor and evaluate public policies and programs. 

USAID invested $1,650,000 for this project and formed a partnership with UNICEF which provided invaluable political and technical support.

The survey was carried out in close collaboration with the state Statistical Committee, the United Nations Population Fund, UNICEF, and other ministries, including Health, Labor, and Economic Development.  In addition to measuring progress on maternal and child health indicators, new data related to HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis was also collected.  The survey also included general education and demographics-related data.

The data indicates improvements in every area covered by the study.  For instance, the health status of women and children has improved considerably.  There has been a steady decline in infant mortality over the five years with the number of deaths dropping 42% from 2001 to 2006.  This is a testimony to the commitment of the Government of Azerbaijan to invest in the country's human capital.

In addition to documenting progress, the study also points to areas where further efforts will produce additional improvements.  The survey shows, for example, that out of every 1000 women, 70 will have one or more abortions in her lifetime.  This number has decreased from 116 in 2001, but still remains higher than comparable statistics in similar countries.  The DHS also shows that 40 percent of children between 18 and 29 months of age have not received all of their basic, recommended vaccines.   

The United States will continue to work together with Azerbaijan to build further on the significant progress in the health sector to improve the lives of all Azerbaijani citizens.  We are committed to this partnership, to strengthening institutional capacity and technical ability and to improving access to quality health care services for all Azerbaijanis. 

Thank you for your attention.