Speech by Ilham Aliyev at the opening of the medical diagnostic center in Khizi District

Good morning. Let me heartily congratulate you. The opening of such a wonderful medical diagnostic center in Khizi is a significant event. The building is a beautiful piece of architecture. It is also gratifying that all medical services are available here: outpatient and inpatient departments, operating theaters, intensive care and diagnostic departments. Everything here corresponds to world standards. And that is the way it should be. All healthcare facilities built and renovated in Azerbaijan, in our districts must meet the highest standards.

As you know, the population of Khizi District is not very large. Despite that, the decision was made that the State Oil Company build a modern medical diagnostic center in Khizi. I am very glad that we are opening this center together today. According to my information, the Khizi district hospital is not in a very good condition, and I will issue an instruction for the district hospital to be established within this center. Then there will be no need for renovating the current hospital. At the same time, we will make certain changes to the functionality of this medical diagnostic center. Sanatorium services may also be provided here. In other words, yet another remarkable step has been taken to improve the healthcare system in Azerbaijan. There are all the conditions in Khizi for the provision of high-level medical services.

In general, modern medical diagnostic centers are emerging in all the districts of the country. Renovation and reconstruction work is carried out both through the State Oil Company and the Ministry of Health, new hospitals, diagnostic centers are under construction, and we are already seeing the results of this work. People's health is paramount to us, it is a priority issue. Of course, to ensure public health we must, above all, provide qualified medical services, in particular, diagnostic opportunities should be at a high level. The opportunities created in Azerbaijan in recent years, both in Baku and in the districts, have brought about a new situation. All the services at the medical diagnostic centers are free, and I recommend that every citizen of Azerbaijan have a checkup once a year. Considering the fact that the medical diagnostic centers have the most modern equipment, there are good opportunities for that.

So there are great conditions for disease prevention and prophylaxis. As you know, the foundation of a new large health center has recently been laid in Baku. Prior to that, new health facilities were built in both Baku and all our districts. The state program on the socioeconomic development of districts also provides for the construction of new hospitals in the coming years. Thus, after several years, all Azerbaijani districts will have suitable conditions for the provision of high-level medical services.

This is another indication that the policy of the Azerbaijani state is socially oriented, that a citizen of Azerbaijan is at the heart of our policy. Citizens of Azerbaijan must be healthy. This is why we are creating these conditions, we are also taking other measures to protect public health, the health of the younger generation. We are building Olympic centers in all our districts, the environmental measures are enhancing. That is the purpose of the major water projects being implemented in our country. Doctors are well aware that clean and high-quality water and food are particularly important for human health. Therefore, the work undertaken in this direction is certainly gratifying. However, we should not feel complacent with the successes achieved, we should and will do even more.

In general, things are progressing well in all directions in our country. There is rapid economic development, Azerbaijan has earned recognition as the most rapidly developing country in the world, the programs we have adopted, in particular the State Program on the socioeconomic development of districts, are enabling us to develop our country comprehensively.

This includes positive changes in Khizi District too. Very important measures have been taken to ensure the district’s infrastructure development, a road has been built. The trunk road, the section of the Baku-Russian border road, is serving the people of Khizi. Besides, the road from the highway to Khizi is also of a good level. According to the information provided to me, there is no problem with electricity and gas in Khizi. Gasification has practically reached 100 per cent. This is a great success, a major achievement. Drinking water and sewage projects are being implemented now. I am sure that the issue will also be resolved soon. Schools are being built and renovated, a wonderful medical diagnostic center has been built. There are good conditions for the people’s health and normal life.

There is a rapid development of agriculture and tourism in Azerbaijan, including Khizi District, and it should be further stepped up. I think we should try to build new hotels and travel facilities here in the coming years, so that the district could develop faster and citizens of Azerbaijan and foreign visitors could come here for rest.

Let me warmly congratulate you on this wonderful occasion again and wish you success and good health. I want things always to go well in Khizi.