Facts on Russians' Health

By The Associated Press

Cardiovascular disease death rate for Russian men 5 to 6 times higher than in West, Health Ministry says. Among men ages 45-74, mortality rate is 1,343 per 100,000, compared to 330 in France, 453 in Italy.

Russian population of about 147 million shrank by estimated 475,000 in 1996, State Statistics Committee says. For at least next several years, expected to continue shrinking by about 500,000 annually.

53 percent of deaths caused by heart disease, 20 percent by cancer.

The World Health Organization figures smoking causes 32 percent of all male deaths, 5 percent of female deaths.

1995, average life expectancy was 58 years for men, 72 for women, compared to 74 and 81 in European Union. Latest estimates from WHO say Russian life expectancy for both sexes now 64 years -- same as Pakistan and Guyana, worse than Vietnam, Mexico, Guatemala, Mongolia, Algeria.

A 20-year-old Russian man has just one chance in two of living to age 60, says Dr. David Leon of London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. In Britain or France, 9 of 10 will live to 60.

For well over 100 years Christians have spread the good news through medical and or healing missions. Russia has some of the best trained doctors in the world. They know how to treat the sick but have so few resources to do that which is required.

They also have well trained psychologists, in theory. However, practical counseling and the application of skills was forbidden as was the practice of religion. Thus, Galina is training both professional therapists and mature lay people how to apply Life Skills for daily living.