SKOPJE, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Macedonia Health Minister Venko Filipce and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Director Doina Bologa signed on Thursday an agreement on joint implementation of measures for the improvement of maternal and newborn health and reduction of mortality ratio.

According to Filipce, the agreement foresees a fund of 5 million Macedonian Denar (around 97,000 U.S. dollars), of which half of the funds are provided by the Macedonian government and half by UNFPA.

"This agreement aims the implementation of several activities by the end of the year such as trainings for the professional staff in two maternity hospitals that cover the highest number of birth, application of practices in line with the latest standards of the World health Organization (WHO) for the care of mothers and newborns," underlined Filipce.

Moreover, Filipce explained that the trainings will be offered from experienced WHO consultants.

This agreement is in line with the 2016-2020 UNFPA Program for Macedonia.

Infant mortality rate in Macedonia is about 11 deaths per 1,000 births, while neonatal mortality rate is 8, according to UNICEF data on Macedonia.