DUSHANBE, June 14, 2013, Asia-Plus -- UNICEF Tajikistan received a 2.1 Million US Dollar grant from the Russian Federation to address child malnutrition and micro-nutrient deficiencies amongst women and children in Tajikistan.

Despite significant progress made over the last decade, malnutrition among children and women remains a major challenge for the country, the UNICEF CO in Tajikistan says.

The 2012 Demographic and Health Survey showed little improvement in the nutritional status of women and children in recent years.

The contribution from the Russian Federation will be used to improve the micronutrient status of women and children through targeted micronutrient supplementation with iron, folic acid and other micronutrients. In addition, the donation will contribute to promotion of good nutritional practices, including optimal breastfeeding and adequate and timely introduction of complementary feeding, through capacity building of health staff and community members.  The Russian contribution will also help to prevent and treat severely malnourished children through strengthening of therapeutic feeding centers and through community-based interventions in the most affected areas.

The project will be implemented in close collaboration with the Government of Tajikistan during the next three years and will target 200,000 children aged 6-24 months and 150,000 pregnant and lactating mothers, 300,000 caregivers of children aged 0-24 months and 600 primary health care workers across the country.

“This donation from the Russian Federation will contribute to achieving the fourth and fifth Millennium Development Goals in Tajikistan - Reducing Child and Maternal Mortality.  Improved nutritional status of children and mothers will contribute to better health and education outcomes and will reduce the economic losses the country suffers as a result of malnutrition”, said Laylee Moshiri, UNICEF Representative in Tajikistan.

This year’s contribution is the second grant that UNICEF in Tajikistan receives from the Russian Federation in the last two years. In 2012, the Russian Federation allocated 1 Million US Dollars for the national diphtheria immunization campaign to prevent a potential diphtheria outbreak and for improvement of routine immunization services. 

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.  The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF is working in Tajikistan since 1993.