The concluding conference of the USAID project "Improving Care for Mothers and Babies" was held at the Kulakov Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology in Moscow on November 17, 2011. It was timed to the World Prematurity Day celebrated annually on November 17 by decision and initiative of the European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants.

The goal of the three year project was to assist counterparts in three Russian regions to reduce rates of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, to reduce abortion rates through more appropriate use of family planning and modern contraceptive methods, and to introduce relevant up-to-date regulations, standards and guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation. The general concept of the project is built on the successes and models developed through prior USAID maternal and child health projects, and successful international models, such as UNICEF's "Baby-Friendly Hospitals" and "Youth-Friendly Clinics," as well as the WHO partograph and associated guidelines for preventing pregnancy complications.

Head of the department of obstetrics and gynecology of Tver State Medical Academy Prof. Y.V. Raskuratov has been among the leading specialists of the project since its beginning in 2008.

In the frame of the concluding event Tver State Medical Academy conducted teleconference between experts of the Kulakov center and departments of health of Tambov, Tula, Ivanovo, Tver, Bezhetsk, Kostroma and Yaroslavl. Since beginning of 2010 TverSMA has successfully organized 10 web-based teleconferences with overall participation of 1000 specialist from all over Russia.

At the end of the conference representatives of Tver State Medical Academy were presented with certificate of appreciation for the fruitful collaboration in the project "Improving Care for Mothers and Babies" and the major contribution to modernization of the medical services provided for mothers and infants.