Cyprus's Health Minister Neofytos Haralambides has said the government is working to gradually reduce the country's caesarean section rate, which he described as particularly high and showing an upward trend in recent years, requiring a coordinated, evidence-based response.
Speaking at a conference of the Pan-Cypriot Gynaecological and Obstetrical Society in Nicosia on Saturday, Haralambides said the issue goes beyond statistics. "When we talk about promoting natural childbirth, we are not simply referring to a numerical indicator. We are talking about the quality of care, the correct and evidence-based use of medical interventions and, above all, ensuring the health and wellbeing of the mother and the newborn," he said.
The Ministry of Health has developed a National Strategy for the promotion of natural childbirth and the reduction of premature births, drawn up in collaboration with scientific bodies, health professionals and patient representatives. The strategy rests on four pillars: strengthening policies and improving quality within the health system, training and empowering health professionals, providing accurate and comprehensive public information, and continuous monitoring of indicators alongside the promotion of research.
Haralambides also highlighted the importance of documenting and fully recording the medical indications that lead to caesarean sections. He said that through the application of clinical guidelines and the use of data from the General Healthcare System, a reliable monitoring framework is being built that will allow targeted and effective measures to be taken.
He stressed that the informed empowerment of women and their families to make evidence-based decisions about childbirth is central to the strategy, and that targeted public awareness initiatives have already been launched. "Promoting natural childbirth and reducing premature births is not the responsibility of a single body. It is a collective effort that requires cooperation between the state, the scientific community, health professionals and society as a whole," he said.
Source: CNA
