ANKARA - UNICEF Director General Carol Bellamy said on Monday that Turkey recorded important progress about maternity and baby health, adding this had to continue.
Bellamy who visited Health Minister Recep Akdag the same day, said that Turkey and UNICEF worked together for long years and that projects were carried out to reduce the death rate of babies and infants.
Bellamy said that important progress was recorded in decreasing baby deaths, adding that this rate should be further decreased.
Pointing out to the importance of nutrition of babies, Bellamy said that the use of iodized salt should become widespread. Bellamy said that the use of iodized salt which was 18 percent in 1995 increased to 65 percent last year, adding that this was an important development for Turkey.
Bellamy said that they discussed studies undertaken about issues of early-childhood care and development and its importance for children and ''mother milk'' with Health Minister Akdag.
Health Minister Akdag said in his part that there was a big cooperation between UNICEF and Health Ministry, adding that many projects were carried out in that framework.
Akdag noted that studies were carried out with UNICEF particularly in fields of adolescence, maternity and baby health. Akdag noted that the aim of the Ministry was to increase the use of iodized salt in Turkey to 80 percent within one year. Akdag said that ''we must record further progress regarding mother and baby deaths and we need the help of UNESCO to this end.''
(Öª-AÖ) 16.06.2003