Article 6

Positive action taken to increase life expectancy

39. Infant mortality. As the following statistics show, there has been a continued decline in infant and perinatal mortality in Norway:

40. The figures showing the perinatal morality rate in the years 1990-1995 in Norway’s fourth periodic report were unfortunately incorrect. The correct figures are:

• 1990: 7.5
• 1991: 7.4
• 1992: 7.4
• 1993: 6.9
• 1994: 7.5
• 1995: 5.8)

41. In order to reduce perinatal and infant mortality, the central authorities have continued the efforts described in paragraph 44 of Norway’s third periodic report and paragraph 55 of the fourth periodic report to improve the care of expectant mothers and new-born babies. The following is an update on this situation:

• In 2000 (the last official statistics) the prevalence of maternal smoking at onset and at the end of pregnancy was 20.7 and 14.0 per cent, respectively.
• In the period 1993-1996, 36 of 56 maternity wards in Norway were designated as baby-friendly hospitals. Thus 77 per cent of Norwegian infants are born in designated hospitals. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative aims at supporting and promoting breastfeeding. In 2004-06 the designated hospitals will be re-assessed. Non-designated hospitals will be encouraged to work towards designation.
• The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative was followed by a substantial rise in breastfeeding rates. National data (1998-99) show that 99 per cent of Norwegian mothers initiate breastfeeding, and that most infants (80 per cent) are still breastfed at six months of age. The proportion of exclusively breastfed infants is relatively high during the first three months of life (> 70 per cent), but then rapidly declines. Revised national Norwegian infant feeding recommendations were issued in 2001, including a recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding the first six months of life.
• A national strategy for infant and young child feeding, based on the global strategy issued by World Health Organisation/UNICEF, is being developed. A first step in achieving the objectives of this strategy is the appointment of a national breastfeeding co-ordinator, in Norway called the National Breastfeeding Centre.
• The Norwegian nutritional authorities recommended in 1998 that women should take a daily folate supplement prior to and early in pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects. The recommendation has been followed up with information campaigns. Knowledge and use of folate have increased among women, but are still insufficient. Different measures are under consideration, including folate fortification of foods.

HIV and AIDS

42. As of 31 December 2003 there were 2 793 reported cases of HIV infection in Norway: 1 950 men and 843 women. As of 27 July 2004 there were 120 new reported cases of HIV infections, 33 more than at the same time in 2003. As of the same time there were 832 reported cases of AIDS, 577 of whom have now died.

43. In 1996, the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs drew up a third plan of action to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic for the period 1996-2000. The duration of the plan was extended by one year, until the December 2001, when the Minister of Health presented the current strategic plan “Responsibility and Consideration. A Strategy for the Prevention of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases”. The Strategic Plan is based on the principles of

• human rights,
• gender equality,
• equal access to good preventive information and follow-up for everyone in Norway as important factors in preventive measures,
• broad participation and active co-determination in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of preventive strategies and measures, and
• the responsibility of the individual to protect him/herself from infection and refrain from infecting others, both in Norway and abroad. This applies particularly to persons suffering from HIV and other infectious diseases, as laid down in the Communicable Diseases Control Act and the Penal Code.

The Strategic Plan provides for basically the same framework and scope as the three previous plans of action, but it focuses more on women, men who have sex with men, and immigrants.

Traffic deaths

44. The following statistics show the number of traffic deaths in recent years:

• 1997: 303
• 1998: 352
• 1999: 304
• 2000: 341
• 2001: 275
• 2002: 310
• 2003: 280

45. On average, 301 persons have been killed in traffic accidents each year during the last 10 years. Of these, on average 17 were children. This has led to a long-term road safety campaign, which sets out a “zero-vision”, i.e. reducing road accidents causing lifelong injury or death to zero. This vision is intended to be a common basis for road safety efforts among all the stakeholders: central government, local authorities, police, various organisations and, in particular, road users.

46. It should perhaps be noted in this connection that the Drunk-Drivers Programme has been introduced as a reaction for driving under the influence of alcohol and replaces custodial sentences. The programme combines education, treatment and supervision and is now available in all probation units in Norway.

Death caused by narcotic drugs

47. There was a gradual increase in the number of deaths caused by narcotics from 1996 to 2001. In the period since 2001, drug-related deaths have decreased markedly. The following figures show deaths caused directly by the use of narcotics:

• 1996: 185
• 1997: 177
• 1998: 270
• 1999: 220
• 2000: 327
• 2001: 338
• 2002: 210
• 2003: 172

The average age of the persons who died was 35 (men) and 32 (women). The increased access for hard-core drug abusers to low-threshold health services and medically assisted rehabilitation with the use of methadone and other medication seems to have contributed to the decrease in drug-related deaths in recent years.

48. In April 2004, the Government put forward a bill on drug injection rooms (Proposition No 56 (2003-2004) to the Odelsting). The proposal is to establish drug injection rooms for a trial period of three years. The main purpose is to improve heavy drug addicts’ life situation and their perception of their own personal dignity. Existing documentation differs as regards the effect of drug injection rooms on the number or outcome of overdoses, but it cannot be ruled out that such rooms reduce the number of deaths caused by overdoses. The effects of the drug injection rooms will be evaluated before the expiration of the three-year trial period.

Euthanasia

49. As mentioned in paragraph 72 of Norway’s fourth periodic report, euthanasia is prohibited under Norwegian law. In a bill put forward in 2004 proposing a new Penal Code (Proposition No 90 (2003-2004) to the Odelsting), it is proposed that euthanasia shall continue to be prohibited.

The Act relating to Control of Communicable Diseases

50. A new Act relating to Control of Communicable Diseases was adopted on 5 August 1994 and came into force on 1 January 1995. The purpose of the Act is to protect the population from communicable diseases by preventing their occurrence, and preventing them from being spread among the population and from being brought into or out of Norway. The Act ensures that various authorities implement the measures necessary to control communicable diseases and co-ordinate their efforts to control such diseases. Furthermore it safeguards the legal rights of individuals who are affected by any measures taken to control communicable diseases pursuant to the Act. The Act authorises the municipal council and the health authorities to take measures to control communicable diseases that are hazardous to public health, for example to prohibit meetings, close establishments and isolate persons in geographically delimited areas for a certain period of time.

51. Since 1996 several regulations concerning communicable diseases have been issued. The regulations concerning the control of tuberculosis came into force in 2003 and provide for measures to prevent transmission of tuberculosis infection and the development of disease following infection. All municipalities and regional health enterprises shall have a tuberculosis control programme. The regulations set out an obligation for certain groups of people to undergo and examination for tuberculosis, for example refugees and asylum seekers. Persons from countries with a high prevalence of tuberculosis who intend to spend more than three months in Norway and are not exempted from work or residence permit requirements shall also undergo such examination.

52. In 2003 the Ministry of Health issued regulations establishing a national programme of vaccination against communicable diseases for children. The municipal health services offer this programme to the population free of charge.

53. In 2001 the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs issued the Norwegian National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan. The plan was revised in 2003. The objective of the plan is to ensure that the necessary steps are taken to make it possible during a pandemic to:

• reduce morbidity and mortality;
• nurse and treat sick and dying patients at home and in hospital;
• uphold essential community services;
• provide continuous, necessary information.