OREANDA-NEWS. February 05, 2010. A list of instructions issued by the President following a meeting of the Council for the Implementation of Priority National Projects and Demographic Policy has been approved.

The meeting of the Council took place on January 19, 2010.

The document gives orders on implementing in 2010 the first stage of Russia’s Demographic Policy Concept until 2025, approved by Presidential Executive Order on October 9, 2007, making the necessary adjustments in accordance with positive trends in the birth rate and reduction in the mortality rates, including infant and maternal mortality.

The document gives instructions to open perinatal centres and introduce modern technology for caring for newborns, in accordance with the standards recommended by the World Health Organisation, and also to improve the mechanism for disbursing funds under the maternity capital programme.

The Government has been instructed, in particular, to approve a priority task plan for 2010, as well as a plan for 2011-2015 on modernising basic education within the framework of the Our New School national education initiative, and to submit to the President an annual progress report on this work.

The Government, together with the regional executive authorities, has been instructed to submit proposals for improving the school catering system, medical assistance for children in pre-school and general educational establishments, and making treatment in sanatoriums and health resorts available to children.

The instruction has also been given to draft proposals on improving the work of Support Fund for Children in Difficult Circumstances, established by Presidential Executive Order of March 26, 2008.

The regional executive authorities have been recommended to draw up action plans for their regions.