The Department Humanitarian Aid and SHA of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has been active in Belarus since 1993, supporting social-medical programmes of the Swiss Red Cross and Green Cross Switzerland and respective local NGOs. A Swiss Cooperation Office was opened in Minsk in 2001 aiming at mid-term humanitarian involvement in Belarus.

Mother and Child Health

The ecological and socioeconomic situation that arouse after the Chernobyl Power Plant catastrophe exerts negative influence on the health of people living in the contaminated area. Southern districts of Gomel regin – Bragin, Narovlya and Khoyniki – are among the most contaminated ones. Women and children living there are those in need of most protection from the negative impact of radiation. Swiss Cooperation Office in Belarus together the administration of Bragin hospital is involved since 2002 in the implementation of the project aimed at improving the quality of health care for mothers and children in Bragin district.

See website of the Swiss Cooperation Office.