Skopje, 1 January 2024 (MIA) - I made a bet with my co-workers that the first child of 2024 will be a boy. I was right, which means that all planned projects in the health sector will materialize. I urge citizens to have trust in the healthcare system and all health workers. Instead of scandals, we want to put health at the level our patients deserve, said Health Minister Fatmir Mexhiti on Monday.

Health Minister Mexhiti and Minister of Labor and Social Policy Jovanka Trenchevska paid a visit to Alek, the first baby of 2024, born at midnight at the Skopje-based University Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics.

Mexhiti congratulated the New Year to citizens and wished them good health and success.

"The Ministry will continue to implement policies and measures to protect the health of mothers, newborns and other patients," underlined Mexhiti.

Minister Trenchevska congratulated Alek's parents on their baby's birth, noting that a national demographic strategy is already being developed, aimed at increasing the country's birthrate.

"As we do every year, we visit the respective hospital to welcome the first baby. This time it arrived at the University Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics. Alek is here, all the best to his parents and may he be alive and well and have a happy childhood," said Trenchevska.

On the strategy, she said the objective is to lower the trend of youth emigration.

"I believe that proper labor policies, higher wages and jobs that are attractive for the youth will keep them in the country, thus improving the country's demography," noted Trenchevska.

Six babies have already been delivered at the Clinic in the morning hours.

Photo: MIA