Speech by Ilham Aliyev at Saatli central district hospital after major overhaul

- I sincerely congratulate you. Today we are celebrating the opening of the renovated Saatli central district hospital. It is a great and remarkable event. While reviewing the hospital now, I was convinced that all the work has been done on a high level.

The renovation of the hospital began in accordance with my order two years ago. There was a great need for that because, as you know, the situation here wasn’t very good. I am glad that renovation has been completed with high quality and in a short time. Now the necessary equipment is available, there are perfect conditions. The hospital meets the highest standards. And this is natural because all the work being done in Azerbaijan should meet the highest standards. We attach special importance to improving the healthcare system. There are surgical, maternity, therapeutic, intensive care departments – so all the necessary conditions. There are excellent working conditions for doctors. Of course, patients should be provided with qualified medical service.

In general, fundamental transformation and reforms are carried out in Azerbaijan’s healthcare system. These reforms have actually led to a new situation, as new and modern facilities are set up both in Baku and in the regions. The hospitals built in previous years are renovated and new ones built.

In the past two years, as part of my visits to the regions, we have always celebrated the opening of a hospital.

Most district centers already have hospitals meeting modern requirements. I am sure that repairs and construction will also be completed in other places in a year or two. Thus, each district center will have a hospital meeting the highest standards. This is our policy.

Our policy is socially oriented. Social issues are always in the spotlight. Among social issues, healthcare holds a special place because people’s health is the most important issue. The Azerbaijani state takes all necessary measures and approaches this issue in a comprehensive manner. An Olympic Sports Center is under construction in Saatli, and this, of course, also serves public health.

Water and sewage projects are being implemented in Saatli. In the preceding period, due to the operation of modular sewage treatment plants, the water supply of many villages improved significantly. We are now addressing the issues of water supply and sewage in Saatli. I hope that in one and one and a half years this major project will also be completed. Thus, one of the key health issues, the issue of drinking water, will also be resolved.

Other social measures have also become widespread in our country. We are successfully resolving the issue of school construction – a lot is being done in this direction, including Saatli. We are creating other public facilities and social infrastructure. So our country is developing comprehensively, all our regions are developing. The state program on the socioeconomic development of districts is being successfully implemented. The second state program will be completed at the end of next year. So all the issues we have identified, all the issues related to the development of our regions will be resolved.

With regard to healthcare, I want to repeat that it is a priority for us. The reforms in this area are paying off. There are excellent hospitals, major medical centers fitted with modern equipment, new medical centers in Baku meeting the highest standards.

The most complex operations are now carried out in Azerbaijan. Our citizens had to travel to other countries for such operations before. Now the most complex operations are performed at a high level in Azerbaijan. At the same time, educational work should be organized at a high level. Every time I attend the opening of a hospital or a diagnostic center I stress that every citizen should be examined once a year. The conditions to do that are now available. This used to be impossible before. But now the Saatli hospital has the latest equipment. So every citizen must be examined once a year. But there are people who don’t look after themselves. I think this is unacceptable because there is no lack of opportunities now.

Diagnostic centers, central district hospitals have the latest diagnostic equipment, scanners, ultrasound devices – everything.

People must take care of their own health. Of course, the state takes all the necessary measures. But people’s health is in their own hands. By spending just a few hours once a year, people can protect themselves from serious diseases. Thus, people do a service to society, the family.

In general, I can say that as a result of the reform carried out in recent years, the statistics are changing for the better. For example, life expectancy has increased in Azerbaijan. This is a factor demonstrating overall development of any country. Child mortality is reducing. I regret to say that this figure is still not at the desired level yet, but the dynamics is positive. As a result of the operation of new hospitals, including maternity departments, child mortality should be at the level of developed countries.

These statistics could be even more positive. Educational work should assume even greater scope, people should protect their own health. I want this.

I want the people of Azerbaijan to be healthy, the younger generation to grow up healthy. To do this, I want to say again, comprehensive measures are taken. Infrastructure projects, public policy, environmental measures, in particular the environmental situation, the supply of drinking water to rural areas and along the Kura and Araz rivers are of particular importance. This is why we began the construction of water treatment plants several years ago. Today we see the fruition of that work. I am sure that as a result of these measures, our citizens will be healthier.

The professionalism of doctors, their care of the sick, of course, should be at a high level. Doctors should also enhance their knowledge. Work should be done to improve skills, so that these issues are resolved even more successfully.

I was pleased to attend the opening of a number of facilities in Saatli District today. They are further evidence that Saatli is developing comprehensively. Today we celebrated the opening of a local history museum, a youth center, a chess school, a new building of the “Yeni Azerbaijan Party”. These opening ceremonies are an indicator in themselves. They show the development of the district, it is becoming nicer and improving. The central square has acquired a completely new look and turned into a large recreation area. I remember the previous state of this square, it was not so nice. Now there are perfect conditions for people’s recreation and comfort. Rural roads are under construction. On my order a new road connecting several villages has already been built. But it is still necessary. Extra funds will be allocated in the coming months.

So measures are taken for people to live normally, Saatli District is developing. I have repeatedly visited Saatli, this is my fourth visit as President. Every time I see something new here, I am very happy. I congratulate all the residents of Saatli on these successes and wish you every success and good health.