Russia`s population grows first time over 15 years - deputy PM.

MOSCOW, February 20 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia's population last year
increased for the first time since 1995, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander
Zhukov told a conference at the government's office devoted to progress in
the implementation of priority national projects in 2009.
"According to preliminary estimates, Russia's population, migration
included, increased over the past fifteen years for the first time to
reach 141.927 million," he said. He attributed the population growth to
the authorities' measures in the sphere of demography and social policies.
"Clearly, a number of steps we have taken have yielded good results, first
and foremost, in the sphere of demography."
He recalled that 2009 saw 1.764 million births, 50,000 (or 3 percent)
more than in 2008. Deaths showed a decline by 62,000 (3 percent).
"The natural depopulation rate was down more than 30 percent as
compared with the 2008 level," Zhukov said. "This is the main indicator of
our efforts."
"For the first time over 19 years we observed natural population
growth in the Urals and Siberian federal districts," Zhukov said.
He also pointed to the most frequent causes of death, which remained
the same - the cardio-vascular diseases. Zhukov recalled that starting
from 2008 special measures were launched with the framework of the
national project Health to better assistance to people suffering
cardiovascular diseases.
"Another fourteen regions will join in this program in 2010," he said.
Zhukov noted one distinctly positive trend.
"The rates of deaths caused by practically all diseases showed a
decline."
New growths were the sole exception. The rate of cancer-related deaths
was up slightly, by 0.9 percent. Zhukov urged the Health and Social
Development Ministry and the regional authorities to pay greater attention
to assistance to oncological patients.
Zhukov also emphasized a significant decline in the rate of deaths
related to external causes, by 12.7 percent. Alcohol-related deaths
reduced by 30 percent. Also, there was a 15-percent decline in the rate of
fatalities in road accidents.
"Last year twelve constituent territories of Russia participated in
measures to arrange for medical assistance to road accident victims. There
has been a noticeable reduction in lethal cases," Zhukov said. "Another 22
regions will join in this year."

-0-str