DUSHANBE , July 29, Asia-Plus  -- A problem of healthy lifestyle is topical in Tajikistan .

A seminar formally titled “Conceptual Foundations of Community Participation and Public Information Campaign for Health Improvement” was held in Dushanbe on July 28. 

The seminar staged by the Ministry of Health in cooperation with the Unit for Implementation of Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR) Projects considered issues related to raising a role of communities and public information campaign in improvement of health of the population in Tajikistan .  The JFPR is administered by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The seminar participants included senior representatives from the Tajik Ministry of Health, international organizations and public associations dealing with healthcare problems.  

 Deputy Minister of health, Ziyovuddin Afghonov, telling the seminar noted, “Success of health of the population depends on activity of the public as well as ability of community to determine its requirements for achieving goals.”  

The goal of the project under the JFPR grant designed for 2? years is to improve access to and use of innovative health care procedures promoted under the Health Sector Reform Project (HSRP) by the poor population, particularly the poorest: women of reproductive age, mothers, and children.  To achieve this goal, the JFPR Project aims to strengthen public information on and community and family participation in determining, implementing, and monitoring health needs, practices, and services.  The JFPR Project and HSRP will be implemented in five rural districts (Roshtqala in Porno Badakhshan, Ayni and Kuhistoni Mastchoh districts in the Sughd province, Rasht district (districts subordinate to the center), and Kulob district in the Khatlon province.  

Ms. Mehrinisso Rustamova, deputy manager of the JFPR Office in Tajikistan , has told Asia-Plus that the areas have been selected for their level and severity of poverty and level of infant and maternal mortality.  The JFPR Project and HSRP will invest in areas that will have the greatest impact on the poor, women, and children.

            For successful implementation of the project by order of the minister an inter-sectoral working group has been set up.  The group consists of representatives from the country’s ministries of health, education, culture, labor and social security. 

Ms. Rustamova says the projects includes three components: 1) to help the Ministry of Health at the national level to develop strategies for public information services and community participation to be implemented in the pilot districts.  The document is supposed to have been prepared by November, and in December, it will be submitted for consideration to the government; 2) to carry out public information campaigns aimed at changing the population attitude to healthy lifestyle; and 3) to draw communities in removing obstacles impeding provision of high-quality medical services.