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Intl symposium considers Uzbek model of maternal and child health care
November 27, 2011
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The Symposiums Palace of the recently opened
Marifat Markazi (Enlightenment Center) in Tashkent hosted an
international symposium on the “National model of maternal and child
health care in Uzbekistan: “Healthy mother – healthy child” on 26
November.
The event, organized on the initiative of President of Uzbekistan
Islam Karimov, was held by the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan
jointly with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). |
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Some 300 world-known academics and representatives of healthcare-
related international organizations, including heads of the WHO,
UNICEF, UNFPA, ministries of health from almost 40 countries including
the USA, China, Russia, Canada, UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, France,
Finland, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Denmark, South Korea and other
states took part in the symposium.
The main topic of the forum was the cardinal reforms implemented in
Uzbekistan since the country proclaimed independence in the area of
protection of health, including maternal and child health, upbringing
healthy generation, and creating a national model.
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov spoke at the opening of the
international forum.
In accordance with the Decree of the President of Uzbekistan of 24
November 2011, Director-General of the World Health Organization
Margaret Chan, for her outstanding services in organizing the work of
the WHO and development of primary health care, implementation of the
Global strategy of protection of the health of mothers and children,
was awarded with the order Soglom Avlod Uchun (For the Healthy
Generation) of the first degree.
The head of the state Islam Karimov presented this high award to
Margaret Chan.
In her speech, Director-General of the World Health Organization
Margaret Chan said that Uzbekistan was paying great attention to
health issues, especially maternal and children’s health. Protection
of mothers’ and children’s health is defined as a priority, which is
the rightest strategy, not only in terms of today, but also the
future.
Margaret Chan also expressed sincere gratitude to President of
Uzbekistan for the high award.
Since the country proclaimed independence, cardinal reforms have been
implemented in the healthcare sector under the guidance of President
Islam Karimov. All necessary conditions have been created to ensure
healthy and decent living, raising physically and mentally healthy
young people, expanding domestic production of pharmaceutical
products. Relevant laws, decrees and decisions of the President and
the Cabinet serve as an important factor in the development of the
health sector. The decree of the head of the state “On State program
of reforming healthcare system of the Republic of Uzbekistan” of 10
November 1998 marked the beginning of an important stage in the
cardinal reform of the sector.
The protection of the maternal and children’s health, and upbringing
the healthy generation are set as priorities of the state policy. One
of the first international instruments which Uzbekistan joined was the
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by the
parliament on 9 September 1992. On 8 January 2008, the Law “On
guarantees of the rights of the child was adopted.”
The first order of the country, Soglom Avlod Uchun (For the Healthy
Generation), established on 4 March 1993, is a symbol of the attention
to the health of the young generation, as well as large-scale work on
the formation of physically and spiritually developed young people.
The conduction of the high-profile international forum at the
Symposiums Palace in the Enlightenment Center is yet another
manifestation of the consistent attention to the issues of raising a
healthy generation.
The care about the health of the women and children is a concern about
the future of the nation. Uzbek people have since ancient times
respectfully treating women who are the keepers of the family, mothers
and educators of the children. In the course of the reforms in the
years of independence, these good traditions have been enriched with
new content.
The strengthening in the people’s minds of the idea “Healthy mother –
healthy child” has in the full sense of the word made this a
nationwide movement. Speaking about the healthy generation, we, in the
first place, mean healthy children. In this regard, based on the
program “Healthy mother – healthy child”, activities have been
developed and consistently implemented in the past years to protect
the mothers and children, and increasing the medical culture in the
families.
At the plenary session of the symposium, detailed information on
Uzbekistan’s national model of health services, including maternal and
children’s health, was presented.
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The speakers at the symposium stressed that over
the past years Uzbekistan has established a national model of health
services at the level of international standards. A network of
qualitatively new medical establishments has been created, which
includes the Republican center of emergency medical care and the
specialized scientific-practical centers in different areas of
medicine. New multidisciplinary clinics for children and adults are
functioning in the regions, maternity hospitals are being built, and
the primary health care basis has been strengthened, in particular,
in the rural areas. |
A single system of providing specialized medical aid to children has
been created. It consists of the Republican specialized
scientific-practical pediatric medical center and 13 regional
children’s multipurpose medical centers. Qualified care for mothers
and newborns is provided at the Republican specialized
scientific-practical medical center of obstetrics and gynecology, and
its regional affiliates, as well as perinatal centers.
On the basis of the State Program “Mother and Child Screening” adopted
on the initiative of the President, in all regions of the country a
network of modern screening centers has been created. This has allowed
to bring prevention and treatment of many congenital and hereditary
diseases to a new level.
The Republican Center for Reproductive Health and its 13 regional
branches were set up, which provide high-quality medical care and are
working to raise the awareness of the population on the issues of
reproductive health.
Improving the food ration is part of the national strategy of
improvement of the social welfare. In this direction, necessary
legislative and regulatory framework has been created to ensure the
safety and quality of food. Laws “On state sanitary control”, “On
prevention of micronutrient deficiency among the population,” “On
certification of products and services” and “On prophylaxis of iodine
deficiency diseases” were adopted.
Measures to protect reproductive health of the population, and health
of pregnant women by providing them with special multivitamin
complexes that contain the necessary range of essential micronutrients
are being taken. The state has allocated funds for the annual purchase
of multivitamin complexes, which help pregnant women in rural areas
improve their health, leading to birth of healthy children. The
programs on flour fortification and salt iodization have been
successfully implemented in the country. All this, as well timely
treatment and preventive services, have helped significantly reduce
the prevalence of iodine deficiency among the population and anemia
among women of childbearing age.
The President signed resolution “On additional measures to protect the
health of mother and child, and forming healthy generation” on 13
April 2009, and “On the Program of measures to further improve the
efficiency of the work to strengthen reproductive health, giving birth
to healthy child, formation of physically and spiritually developed
generation for 2009-2013” on 1 July 2009.
These documents envisaged measures to improve the health of the women
of childbearing age, extension of periods between the births,
prevention of early marriages and marriages between close relatives,
training medical personnel, strengthening the material and technical
base of maternity and primary healthcare establishments, as well as
raigin public awareness of reproductive health. Additionally,
wide-scale is being carried out to attract children and young people
to physical culture and sports.
The participants of the international symposium got familiarized with
the exhibition dedicated to the achievements of Uzbekistan in the area
of health, namely maternal and child health, and took part in the
sessions of the forum.
Via a teleconference, they got acquainted with the Week of improvement
of health of women of childbearing age, which is taking place at the
rural medical point in Syrdarya region, medical examination of
pregnant women at a screening center in Jizzakh region, and the
activity of the Namangan branch of the Republican specialized medical
research center of obstetrics and gynecology.
The symposium participants visited the Republican scientific center
for emergency medical care, the Republican scientific and practical
medical center of tuberculosis and pulmonology, as well as children’s
hospitals in Tashkent. They also familiarized themselves with the work
of a number of clinics and specialized centers and participated in
satellite conferences and workshops. Some of the forum participants,
attended surgery operations together with specialists from Uzbekistan.
The forum concluded with the adoption of a resolution of the
international symposium.
www.uza.uz
Meeting at the Oqsaroy
November 26, 2011
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President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov met Leo
Bokeria, director of Russia’s Bakulev Research Center for
Cardiovascular Surgery, academician of the Russian Academy of
Medical Sciences, at the Oqsaroy on 26 November.
Welcoming the guest, the head of our state noted that Leo Bokeria is
one of those who always enjoy great respect in Uzbekistan,
especially by people who discovered the delight of life anew owing
to the outstanding surgeon’s enduring talent and experience. |
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Leo Bokeria has been celebrated not merely as a notable doctor of our
times, but also as the one making immense input into fostering
cooperation between medical institutions of Uzbekistan and Russia.
Around a hundred specialists from our country have undergone education
and internship since 1994 at the research center headed by him.
Leo Bokeria traveled to Uzbekistan in 2004 for charity purposes and
conducted complicated surgeries on children with congenital heart
diseases at the Academician Vahidov National Specialized Surgery
Center. A cooperation agreement was signed at the time between
Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Healthcare and Bakulev Research Center for
Cardiovascular Surgery. The act envisions joint academic conferences,
surgeries, retraining cadres. Uzbek medical institutions and the
Bokeria-led scientific center have bolstered bilateral bonds ever
since. In particular, numerous scholars from Uzbekistan have pursued
doctoral and post-doctoral research in close interaction with
colleagues from that establishment.
During the meeting at the Oqsaroy, Leo Bokeria conveyed gratitude to
the head of our state for a warm welcome and stressed Uzbekistan’s
impressive accomplishments during independence years in reforming the
healthcare system, in diagnostics and treatment of cardiovascular
diseases in particular.
The guest underscored that the authoritative symposium in Tashkent
with world-renowned academics and specialists from about forty
countries and various international institutions is indicative of
extensive acknowledgement of Uzbekistan’s successes in medical sphere,
primarily in maternity and child healthcare.
The conversation included also exchange of views on issues pertinent
to enhancing the practical cooperation between cardio-surgery
specialists of Uzbekistan and Russia.
www.uza.uz
Uzbekistan as a model in achieving the Millennium Development Goals
November 26, 2011
The round table titled “Priorities for achieving the Millennium
Development Goals in the European region” was held in the framework of
the international symposium on the maternal and children’s health in
Tashkent. Health ministers and delegations of various states, as well
as heads and experts of the organizations took part in the event.
The Millennium Development Goals, adopted at the UN Summit in 2000,
have identified for the world a range of critical tasks to improve the
quality of life and the wellbeing of the people, said Regional
Director for Europe of the World Health Organization Zsuzsanna Jakab.
The key indicators are those for the achievement of the 4th and 5th
goals – reducing child mortality and improving maternal health, and
they show the effectiveness of all activities related to the MDGs.
In Uzbekistan, on the initiative of President Islam Karimov, a huge
work has been carried out in this direction, and its results serve as
an example for other countries. Today, many countries in the European
region are developing their own strategies for reform in this area and
consider the national model of maternal and child health care of
Uzbekistan.
After gaining independence by the country, fundamental improvement of
the public health system has become a priority of the state policy.
During wide-scale reforms in the country, huge transformations have
taken place in all spheres of life, leading to creation of
Uzbekistan’s own, national healthcare model.
The appropriate legal framework was developed as well. In 1998,
President Islam Karimov signed a decree approving the State program of
reforming the country’s healthcare system, which has defined a
strategy of public health services for the coming years, based on
universal access to quality healthcare.
As Minister of Health of Uzbekistan Adham Ikramov stressed, a special
place in this work is occupied by implementation of the principle
“Healthy mother – healthy child”. These activities include protecting
the rights of women and children, protecting their health,
fortification of food, providing pregnant women with multivitamin
complexes, prevention of infectious diseases, all of which lead to
raising healthy and harmonious developed young generation.
The comprehensive reform of primary healthcare system in Uzbekistan
has allowed to bring quality medical care to residents of the most
remote areas. Over 3,200 rural medical units have been created and
provided with modern equipment, making a huge contribution to
strengthening the health of women and children, their immunization,
sanitation and hygiene education and promotion of healthy lifestyle.
Wide preventive work is carried out in the field of reproductive
health. It is important that these activities are implemented not only
by government agencies, but also by public associations, women’s
committees, NGOs, and citizens’ self-government bodies (mahallas).
The participants of the round table noted that in Uzbekistan a
fundamentally new system of emergency medical care with a network of
regional branches equipped with the latest equipment has been set up.
The work of maternity hospitals and children’s medical establishments
is based on advanced technologies of diagnosis, prevention and
treatment that meet WHO standards.
The creation of a network of screening centers in all regions has
significantly decreased the birth of children with hereditary diseases
and congenital defects of development. The network of perinatal
centers helps in the birth of healthy children even in the most
complex cases.
“We visited the clinic of the Tashkent Pediatric Medical Institute,
and saw how the work on nursing children and the system of surgical
care for children is organized,” Vice-President of the European
Pediatric Association Manuel Moya said. “Uzbekistan has established
the national model of maternal and child healthcare which fully meets
the highest international standards. This model can be successfully
used in other countries. After all, achieving the Millennium
Development Goals is a global task, and all countries around the world
are willing to fulfill this task.”
“Uzbekistan has achieved great success in the health sector, and this
fact can not be denied, said the Minister of Health of Latvia Ingrid
Circene. “This work in the country is carried out in accordance with
the standards and priorities of the WHO.”
The meeting participants discussed the issues of how to achieve the
MDGs related to health of women and children, and opportunities for
strengthening this capacity in different countries. Particular
attention was attached to the fact that in Uzbekistan tasks set in the
Millennium Development Goals are integrated into national action plans
and government programs, which contributes to their effective
implementation.
In this regard, the participants of the round table came to an
agreement on the need to study and disseminate the practices of
Uzbekistan, the countries where unprecedented resources are allocated
to the complex development of the healthcare system and protection of
motherhood and childhood has been raised to the level of state policy.
Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Chairman of the Women’s Committee
E.Basithanova spoke at the round table.
www.uza.uz
President of Uzbekistan receives WHO Director-General
November 26, 2011
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President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received
the Director-General of the World Health Organization Margaret Chan
in Oqsaroy residence on 26 November.
Welcoming the guest, the head of the state said that her visit to
the country was a testament to the tremendous interest shown by the
international community, especially the WHO, to changes in the
healthcare system of Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan attaches great importance to
development of relations with the World Health Organization. |
The jointly determined strategic directions of cooperation between
Uzbekistan and the WHO are reflected in the two-year agreements. The
corresponding document for the period of 2012-2013 was signed this
September.
In May, the Republic of Uzbekistan was elected to the Executive
Committee of the WHO for the period from 2011 to 2014.
During the past 10 years, Uzbekistan implemented 70 projects together
with the WHO. In particular, the WHO is supporting the project of
integrated management of childhood illnesses and improvement of the
drinking water supply, as well as strengthening primary healthcare in
the Aral Sea area.
The WHO country office in Uzbekistan is involved in implementing the
International Health Regulations, supporting the state’s efforts in
increasing the public awareness about health issues. With WHO support,
the country has completely eliminated a number of infectious diseases,
particularly, the poliomyelitis.
With participation of the WHO, the ADB, the EU and the UNICEF, in all
regions of Uzbekistan training centers have been organized, where
25,000 medical personnel were trained in the sphere of protection of
motherhood and childhood. Also, with the WHO assistance, about 100
health professionals from Uzbekistan attend courses and exchange
experience with colleagues in foreign countries every year.
At a meeting in Oqsaroy, the sides noted that holding in Tashkent of a
large international symposium on the national model of maternal and
child healthcare, and participation of the renowned medical experts,
representatives of international organizations, heads of health
ministries from tens of countries prove the recognition in the world
of the major achievements of Uzbekistan in reforming the healthcare
system.
Margaret Chan expressed her sincere gratitude for the high award – the
Soglom Avlod Uchun (For the Healthy Generation) order issues to her
and a warm welcome. She noted that the WHO since 1991 has seen a high
level of political responsibility in Uzbekistan in the area of
protection of motherhood and childhood. The “Healthy mother – healthy
child” program carried out in Uzbekistan covers all essential elements
of good care for mothers and children, including primary healthcare
and hospital care, regular routine inspections and emergency medical
care, disease prevention through immunization and early diagnosis
through screening.
During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the status and
prospects of future cooperation between Uzbekistan and the WHO.
www.uza.uz
“Uzbekistan's experience could be example for many countries”
November 26, 2011
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The international symposium titled “National
model of protection of maternal and child health in Uzbekistan:
“Healthy mother – healthy child” was held in Uzbekistan on 25-26
November. Correspondents of Uzbekistan National Information Agency
talked to some of them.
Marie Camille Lenormand, Deputy minister of labor, employment and
health of France:
“Uzbekistan is implementing large-scale reforms in the medical field
and is achieving great success. Under the leadership of President
Islam Karimov, attention is paid to the health of mothers and
children. |
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“This symposium provides an opportunity to get acquainted more
thoroughly with the national model of Uzbekistan in the field of
maternal and child health care, which has received high evaluation in
the world, as well as exchange views and experiences with colleagues
from different countries.”
Slamet Riyadi Yuvono, Deputy health minister of Indonesia:
“I visited several clinics in your capital during the symposium. The
modern system of medical services has been formed in Uzbekistan.
Medical centers in Tashkent and in the regions are equipped with
modern equipment and fully cover all segments of the population. This
is very important in improving the health of mothers and children.”
Professor Vera Revyakina, head of the Allergy Department of the
Nutrition Scientific Research Institute, Russian Academy of Medical
Sciences:
“At this forum, leading scientists and doctors of the world are
jointly searching for ways to expand the scale of health services for
mother and child, analyze the most urgent problems and develop the
best practices in this direction.”
Manuel Ashauer, president of the Austrian Radiologists Society:
“The attention paid in Uzbekistan to the development of medical
services is yielding good results. I have four children, so I am very
interested in issues of maternal and child health.
“The new methods and technologies introduced into medical practice
help in the early diagnosis of diseases, prevention of disabilities
and rehabilitation. Radiology is dynamically developing in Uzbekistan,
with the latest technologies widely used in the sphere.
“At the symposium, I am presenting a report on the advantages and
possibilities of the magnetic resonance tomography. We have conducted
several scientific and practical seminars on the use of this equipment
in Uzbekistan and Austria in collaboration with experts of your
country.”
Professor Yuriy Gladush, director of children’s hospital Okhmatdet
(Ukraine):
“Ministries of health of Uzbekistan and Ukraine cooperate in
directions like maternal and child health, reproductive health,
epidemiological control, food safety, prevention and treatment of
HIV/AIDS, drug addiction, promoting healthy lifestyles. A consistent
work is being carried out to prevent HIV/AIDS spread among infants and
its treatment.”
Professor Marina Degtyareva, head of the neonatal research department
of the Russian National Research Medical University named after
Pirogov:
“Maternal and child health, upbringing the young generation physically
and mentally healthy are important factors in effective solutions of
the health, social and demographic issues, improving the nation’s
intellectual potential and achieving sustainable development.
“In the years of independence, Uzbekistan has given priority to these
matters, and this has given notable results. The maternal and infant
morbidity and mortality have decreased, and the scale of high quality
medical services for all segments of the population has increased.”
“I was particularly amazed by the projects aimed at improving the
quality of pediatric education and service. I believe in-depth study
and application of the achievements of Uzbekistan will be useful for
many other countries.”
www.uza.uz
President of
Uzbekistan awards WHO head
November 26, 2011
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed a decree on 24 November
on awarding the Director-General of the World Health Organization
Margaret Chan with the first-level Soglom Avlod Uchun (For the Healthy
Generation) order.
As stated in the decree, the high award has been issued to Margaren
Chan for her outstanding contribution to the organization of the WHO
activities in the field of healthcare and development of the primary
medical and sanitary care, as well as implementation of the Global
strategy of protection of mothers’ and children’s health.
www.uza.uz
International symposium participants share thoughts
November 26, 2011
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An international symposium titled “National model
of protection of maternal and child health in Uzbekistan: “Healthy
mother – healthy child” is continuing in Uzbekistan. Correspondents
of the Uzbekistan National Information Agency talked to some of
them.
Professor Leonid Roshal, director of the Scientific Research
Institute of Emergency Children’s Surgery and Traumatology of the
Russian Federation:
“I have been able to observe the process of development of medical
sector of Uzbekistan previously. |
I have to say Uzbekistan’s initial choice of development strategy for
the health system was correct. While many countries did not pay
attention to pediatrics, Uzbekistan from the first years of
independence has paid a special attention to children’s diseases and
their treatment.
“Along with this, extensive work has been carried out in personnel
training. Children’s hospitals have not only been preserved, but many
new ones were built. Thanks to the farsighted policy of the leadership
of Uzbekistan, your country is nurturing a spiritually and physically
developed young generation.
“In Uzbekistan, a right and reliable model of child health care has
been developed. As a result, the rate of infant mortality has
significantly decreased. I like the slogan “Everything the best for
the children”, which has a deep meaning, and to implement it is the
duty of each of us.”
Sofia Al-Khoja, director of Al-Kasymi hospital(UAE):
“Uzbekistan has carried out significant work to protect and strengthen
maternal and child health. I am glad to have the opportunity to study
Uzbekistan’s experience in this area, and exchange views with
specialists in your country.
“Your country has been implementing large-scale reforms to strengthen
the legal framework of maternal and child health. Several projects to
make pregnancy safer, to ensure effective perinatal care, promote
breastfeeding, implementation of the integrated treatment strategy of
child diseases are being successfully implemented. Many countries
could follow this example of Uzbekistan.”
Ian Pett, head of the health sector, UNICEF:
“Children’s health is an important for all countries. Everybody is
equally responsible for the solution of this problem. Uzbekistan is a
leading country in terms of maternal and child health in the region.
The effective mechanism of upbringing harmoniously developed
generation, protection of maternal and child health, as well as
ongoing reforms to improve the reproductive health of reform are worth
commending. UNICEF will continue its close and consistent cooperation
with Uzbekistan in this area.”
Nurzhan Otarbaev, director of the Medical and Research Center of
Mother and Child the Republic of Kazakhstan:
”Your country has achieved great results in the maternal and child
health care. Especially notable are the use of advanced achievements
of the world medicine, and construction of modern medical facilities
in rural areas.
“I would like to highlight the effectiveness of the programs to
improve maternal and child nutrition. Positive results have also been
obtained in the national strategy on breastfeeding. The reduction of
anemia among mothers and children has been achieved. We always observe
and study the experience of Uzbekistan in this direction.”
www.uza.uz
International symposium considers national healthcare model
November 25, 2011
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On 25-26 November, Tashkent will host an
international symposium titled “National model of protection of
maternal and children’s health in Uzbekistan: Healthy mother –
healthy child”.
This forum is attended by heads and representatives of a number of
international organizations, including the World Health
Organization, the UNICEF, the UNFPA, as well as heads of health
ministries from around 40 countries, world-famous scientists in the
field of medicine, international experts and analysts. |
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Correspondents of the Uzbekistan National News Agency (UzA) talked to
some of the symposium participants.
Stefano Marionechi, head of children’s cardiac surgery department,
Milan Cardiac Surgery Clinic (Italy):
“I am glad to have this opportunity to take part in the international
symposium. I am well informed of the tremendous progress achieved in
Uzbekistan in the medical field since the country proclaimed
independence, particularly in terms of children’s and maternal health.
This can be seen on the example of the cardiac surgery.
“Today in Uzbekistan, all children’s congenital heart defects are
treated according to international standards. An important factor is
creation of modern medical facilities. We have seen the new cardiac
surgery department created at the Republican specialized surgery
center. This means that the quality and scope of medical services in
this area will increase.”
Lorenzo Bonnie, head of pediatric surgery department of a Madrid
hospital (Spain):
“We are participating in the operations taking place at the Republican
specialized surgery center, and exchange experience with our Uzbek
colleagues. Treatment of congenital heart diseases, occurring in
children, is a very important process. This requires special medical
facilities equipped with modern technologies, as well as qualified
professionals like cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, anesthetists,
perfusionist, special nursing care.
“The conditions created in Uzbekistan and the operational procedures
fully comply with international standards. The screening of mothers
and children helps prevent such pathologies among children.
Accompanied with timely health and social care for pregnant, these
measures are yielding good results in giving birth to the healthy
generation.”
Arianna Plebani, representative of the Italian international
humanitarian organization helping the children:
“I’ve been to many countries around the world and can say that in
Uzbekistan, a lot of attention and care is shown to children. The
attending of this symposium by leading scientists and experts from
dozens of countries proves that there is a growing interest in the
experience of Uzbekistan in the field of maternal and children’s
health.
“I am glad to be able to participate in this important forum, which
will facilitate the mutual exchange of experience.”
Anup Raj, director of Holy Angels Hospital (India):
“I visited Uzbekistan previously and I am aware of the results of
reforms in all fields, including medicine. The country has managed to
create effective mechanisms for the development of medicine and has
achieved great success in this direction.”
Roland Vauer, professor of the Charite Clinic (Germany):
“Participation in this international symposium, which is attended by
the most famous and respected specialists of the world, is a great
opportunity. As part of this forum, I held a workshop on “Neonatal
emergency care, intensive care and mechanical ventilation” at the
Republican Perinatal Center.
“Early diagnosis of each woman and the birth of a healthy baby largely
depends on the use of the latest methods and technologies. It is good
to see that the center has modern equipment and is provided with all
the facilities required. All of this, of course, serves to strengthen
the protection of the maternal and children’s health in Uzbekistan.”
Professor Paul Vogt, founder of the EurAsia Heart foundation, director
of the Im Park clinic, heart surgeon (Switzerland):
“Our foundation works closely with the countries of Europe and Asia in
the field of medicine. As part of this international symposium, I had
the opportunity to participate in the heart surgery operation at the
Republican scientific center of emergency medical care. From what I
saw I can say that in Uzbekistan, a lot of work to improve the cardiac
surgery is being done.”
www.uza.uz
Address
by H.E. Mr. Islam Karimov,
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan,
at the opening session of the International Symposium
The National Model of Maternity and Childhood Health
Protection in Uzbekistan: Healthy Mother - Healthy Child
Dear Mrs. Director-General,
Distinguished participants of the symposium,
Ladies and Gentlemen!
It gives me a great pleasure to welcome you, our distinguished guests,
the representatives of the high-profile international institutions -
the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the UN Development Program and
the UN Population Fund, the public health administrations of many
countries of the world, all the participants of the symposium, and
express my deepest respect to all of you.
This unique complex of buildings the construction of which was just
recently completed, embodies the best samples of national and modern
architecture and city building art, consists of the two main parts:
the National Public Library and the Palace of Symposiums, where we
have gathered today. The very fact that the first guests we are
receiving in this grand hall are you, the participants of the present
International Forum devoted to the most humane and noble sphere of the
human activity, i.e. the maternity and childhood health protection, -
acquires to much extent a symbolic and historical significance.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to express to you, dear Mrs.
Margaret Chan, and to all of you, dear guests, the words of a sincere
gratitude for accepting our invitation to take part in this Forum.
It is a great honor and high privilege for us that with Your
participation, Mrs. Chan, as well as the participation of outstanding
foreign scientists and medical scholars of authority we are going to
discuss the Model of maternity and childhood health protection
developed in Uzbekistan as the most important integral part of the
ongoing nation-wide healthcare program and upbringing a healthy and
harmoniously brought up young generation.
The motto or the principle “Healthy Mother - Healthy Child” which
gained a common recognition in its essence served as a consolidating
and mobilizing appeal to the people and became a particular priority
raised to the state and public level.
Certainly, we did comprehend that achieving the set goal was possible
only on the basis of deep reforming and modernizing the entire system
of the public healthcare.
Today we have all grounds to state that during the years of
independent development it has been created a practically capital
foundation on which we continue building and renewing our country's
public health system.
Firstly, it has been formed a principally new and in its way unique
integrated system to render a free and highly qualified emergency
medical aid to the population. It consists of the specialized regional
hospitals and branches in the cities and districts that meet the
highest requirements and international standards, as well as the
emergency medical care services. Their activities are managed and
coordinated by the Republican Scientific Center for Emergency Medical
Aid.
Secondly, setting up more than 3200 rural medical stations plays an
extremely significant role in the course of reforming the system of
public healthcare and enhancing its lower level. I want to draw your
attention that we are not speaking about the rural first-aid and
obstetric stations, as they exist in other countries, but about the
stations supplied with the high-tech medical equipment and where the
first medical aid is rendered by the general practicing physicians.
Thirdly, we have streamlined the network of healthcare institutions on
the district and regional levels and set up compact and well-supplied
with the cutting-edge equipment and skilled personnel district-level
medical associations and regional multi-field hospitals and
polyclinics.
Fourthly, at the moment there are 10 republican specialized scientific
and practical medical centers operating on the basis of the acclaimed
scientific schools of cardiology and cardio-surgery, midwifery and
gynecology, urology, ophthalmology, pulmonology and phthisiology,
endocrinology and others, where we concentrate a highly-qualified and
professionally trained personnel who render the highly-tech medical
service using the modern equipment.
All these years we have channeled our efforts, primarily, to creating
the conditions for the birth and to nurture a healthy generation to
achieve the long-term effect, i.e. maintaining and improving the
nation’s gene pool, raising the life expectancy and living standards
of our people. It is natural that to reach this aim we had to
accomplish an enormous work, including the one to change the
psychology and mentality of the people.
In particular, to develop healthy family and reduce the number of
possible cases of hereditary diseases in the country we have
introduced the system of obligatory pre-marriage medical examination.
If to consider this aspect broadly, I would like to specially
underscore that such values as the moral climate and morality in
society, especially, among youth, as well as the attention being paid
to strengthening family, sustainability and solidity of family ties
have always been and now are highly valued in our country. I think
there is no need to prove to someone that this factor, i.e. the
healthy family and healthy atmosphere in the family plays an enormous
role in the birth of a healthy child.
Today the prenatal and mother and child screening centers are
functioning practically in all regions of Uzbekistan. At the expense
of the state budget all pregnant women in the rural areas are supplied
with polyvitamins essential to develop a healthy fetus.
I would specially like to draw your attention to establishing the
network of the modern mother and child screening centers in the
framework of a special state program. Their work has allowed to reduce
since 2000 the birth of children with hereditary and inborn diseases
to more than 1,7 times.
In our country we conduct a free vaccination of all children under 2
and this made us possible to completely eliminate such diseases as
diphtheria, tetanus and polio. Practically 100 percent of children
under 14 are covered by a comprehensive medical examination twice a
year and the fertile age women go through this procedure annually.
During the last 20 years as a result of implementation of a set of
measures the maternity and childhood mortality rate in our country has
decreased to more than three times. In the global rating of 161
countries released this year by the International organization “Save
the children” Uzbekistan secured the top 9th place among the states
where the young generation's healthcare is better provided.
The training of highly-qualified medical personnel is the most
important aspect in reforming the sphere of healthcare.
At the moment, along with the Tashkent Medical Academy there are
medical higher educational institutions operating in such centers as
Samarkand, Andijan, Bukhara, Urgench and Nukus.
We have introduced a principally new approach in organizing training
of nurses with a higher education degree.
I would like to specially emphasize that our medical institutions work
in close cooperation with the leading foreign medical establishments,
such as the University clinics of Charité (Germany), Harvard (USA),
Manchester (Great Britain), Vienna (Austria) and well-known centers in
Russia and the Ukraine, as well as major hospitals of Japan, South
Korea and other countries.
4
It gives me a great pleasure to welcome them and on behalf of the
participants of the Forum present in this Hall to express my sincere
gratitude to them.
Such an enormous attention paid in our country to the public
healthcare is bolstered with, primarily, the investments and inputs
made to the development of this sphere.
The share of expenditures channeled to the public health sector in the
state budget makes up 15,7 percent and its share in the GDP - 4,1
percent.
Within the past period more than 700 million dollars of soft loans and
grant assets of donors have been attracted to improve the logistics of
the healthcare system and provide it with modern equipment and medical
techniques alone.
Despite the ongoing global financial-economic crisis, during the last
three years the volume of financing the sphere of public health has
grown to 2,5 times.
I would like to briefly dwell on the issues related to free and paid
medical services.
In Uzbekistan the entire primary medical aid for the population is
free. The emergency medical and pediatric aid, obstetrics and the
services to treat a number of socially vital diseases such as
oncological, communicable and others, are rendered on the same basis.
At the same time, we all well comprehend that the modern quality
medical aid is based on expensive equipment which needs a constant
upgrading, as well as expensive medicines and medical products, and
this factor, in its turn, puts on the top of agenda the acute issues
of reasonable combination of free and paid medical treatment.
Today we have all grounds to state that the life itself has confirmed
the Tightness and efficiency of the chosen model of healthcare in
Uzbekistan. I will make only one example. Since 1991 we have managed
to raise the average life expectancy from 67 to 73, including the life
expectancy of women - up to 75.
Our experience proves that the reforms of healthcare is a permanent
and uninterrupted process. Both the medical science and practice are
constantly progressing and this finds its reflection in our national
model of public health.
5
Nowadays we are starting to implement the tasks of a new phase of
reforms during which we will have to complete optimization of the
public health institutions network and gradually re-supply them with
cutting-edge equipment. We are planning to considerably improve the
logistical, scientific and practical basis of the specialized medical
centers, turn them into joint-stock companies, introduce the
mechanisms of encouraging medical personnel of the centers and raising
their accountability for the end results.
For these purposes at the expense of various sources in few years we
shall mobilize the assets worth more than 1,5 billion US dollars in
equivalent. And we are perceiving this work not only as a major factor
of raising the welfare and strengthening the people's health, but also
as one of the key indices of our economy's growth and sustainable
progress of society.
Dear participants of the Symposium!
I am confident that the results of our International Forum in the
final outcome will facilitate implementation of the Millennium
Development Goals. Since for everyone the opportunity to live a long
and healthy life stands as a principal indicator of human happiness.
In conclusion, I want to note that in the core of all our achievements
in the sphere of public health, which we can be rightly proud of,
above all, there are knowledge, experience, professionalism and skills
of many thousands of medical workers - the doctors and nurses,
scientists and specialists, and all those who by their tireless and
selfless labor grant a human being health and save the people’s lives.
As they say, there are two professions in the world blessed by God:
the first is a profession of teacher and the second is a profession of
doctor. For all of us a doctor devoted to his noble mission and daily
expressing his best human qualities is an example of unselfish service
to the higher ideals of humanism.
Speaking from this high rostrum, I would once again like to express my
sincerest appreciations to you and in your person to all
representatives of this noble profession. I wish you a fruitful work,
fine stay on the hospitable land of Uzbekistan, as well as a sound
health and many successes in your further endeavors.
Thank you
for your attention.
Opening remarks
by Dr. Margaret Chan,
Director-General, World Health Organization
at the International
symposium on the National model of
maternity and childhood health protection in Uzbekistan:
“Healthy mother – Healthy child”
Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan, 26 November 2011
Your Excellency, Mr Islam Karimov, President of the Republic of
Uzbekistan, honourable ministers, distinguished delegates, ladies and
gentlemen,
Let me begin by thanking the government of Uzbekistan for hosting this
International symposium on maternal and child health.
Improving the health of mothers, their new babies, and young children
is one of the most critical, and most difficult, challenges facing
international public health today.
Making maternal and child health a top priority is the right thing to
do, for now and for the future.
You have clearly signalled this in the name you have given to your
national policy: “healthy mother, healthy child”.
Your agenda covers all the right elements of good care for mothers and
children.
Primary health care and hospital care. Routine preventive care and
emergency care.
Prevention through immunization, and early detection through
screening, but also specialized care for acute events, like accidents
and injuries, which are all too common in children.
I am especially pleased to see that you are giving deserved attention
to nutrition. Many health programmes neglect nutrition, seeing it as
something for other sectors, like agriculture or trade, to take care
of.
You are also looking at the health of adolescents, another frequently
neglected area, and you are emphasizing the health-promoting role of
sports.
You are doing so when times are deeply troubled in many parts of the
world.
This has been a year of unprecedented natural disasters, floods,
tsunamis, a nuclear accident, massive starvation in the Horn of
Africa, and civil uprisings in the Middle East that toppled
governments.
Ours is a world beset by one global crisis after another. The economic
turndown is getting worse. In much of the world, food prices are now
sky high, leading to unhealthy diets, especially in lower-income
households.
Processed foods, full of sugar, salt, and fat, yet lacking essential
nutrients, have become the new staple food in nearly every corner of
the world.
These foods are the cheapest and most convenient way to fill a hungry
stomach. These foods are the ones that contribute so greatly to the
rise of chronic noncommunicable diseases.
In the midst of these global crises, this country can be proud that
the health of its population has not deteriorated and that life
expectancy is increasing.
Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Health enjoys a close relationship with WHO,
which is deeply valued.
My staff tell me that this country has a well-functioning immunization
programme, with excellent and sensitive surveillance.
This is an absolutely critical asset when protecting the health of
children, but also in quickly detecting infectious diseases that could
threaten the entire population.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This country has made maternal and child health a top priority since
the beginning of its independence.
At the global level, the start of this century was marked by
international agreement among Heads of State on the Millennium
Development Goals. Maternal and child health are included as
priorities among a small number of time-bound targets and goals.
The past decade has demonstrated the great value of setting clear
priorities and focusing efforts on attaining well-defined goals.
For decades, the worldwide number of maternal deaths was stubbornly
stuck at half a million each and every year. These deaths were
regarded as the starkest, saddest, and most stubborn statistic in
public health.
Finally, we saw a breakthrough in the past decade.
WHO and UNICEF estimates for 2010 show a significant worldwide drop in
maternal mortality, with the greatest declines, of around 60%,
reported in Eastern Asia and Northern Africa.
We have more good news. During the previous decade, the number of
under-five deaths dipped below 10 million for the first time in almost
six decades and kept on dropping, with the figure now standing at 7.6
million deaths worldwide.
This is still way too many, as more than two-thirds of these deaths
are entirely preventable through inexpensive and highly effective
interventions.
But we have to admit: this is progress, welcome and measurable
progress.
Ladies and gentlemen,
This country can be proud of its achievements. As the global figures,
over many decades, tell us: preventing maternal, infant, and young
child deaths is not an easy task.
Why is this so hard? There are multiple reasons, but let me name just
a few.
First, talk about these problems is usually filled with great passion.
But historically, these intense expressions of concern have not been
matched by high-level political commitment and resolve.
Without this political commitment, we will never see progress.
This country has enjoyed the highest level of political commitment
since 1991.
Second, for maternal mortality, we will never see progress in the
absence of strong, well-functioning, affordable, and accessible health
services, especially in rural areas.
The prevention of maternal deaths depends absolutely on skilled
attendance at birth and access to emergency obstetric services.
This country has addressed these problems, especially by reforming the
health system in line with the principles and values of primary health
care, including fairness in access to care.
Such reforms promote equity and social solidarity.
They are also cost-effective.
We have very good evidence, for example, that young children with
pneumonia, one of the top two killers in this age group, can be safely
treated with antibiotics in homes.
These children do not always need to be hospitalized, where their
already frail bodies are exposed to multiple additional pathogens in
other hospitalized patients.
The same is true with home care for malaria.
Finally, for women, the obstacles that stand in the way of better
health are not primarily technical or medical in nature.
They are social, cultural, and political.
These obstacles can be reduced or even removed.
But only when the right policies are in place at the highest level of
government, ideally backed by legislation and strong enforcement
capacity.
Let me give an example. In many countries around the world, a women
needs permission from her husband or in-laws before she can seek
medical care, even if her life, or that of her children, is in danger.
And let me remind you of the pay-back, nationwide, that comes from
addressing any of these problems.
A health system is a social institution.
It does far more than just deliver babies and pills, the way a post
office delivers letters. Properly managed and financed, a good health
system contributes to social cohesion and stability.
In every country, social stability is a deeply desired goal in a world
increasing disrupted by so much turmoil.
Ladies and gentlemen,
You are looking at achievements, but also at prospects for the future.
One purpose of an international symposium is to gather experiences
from around the world, to look at best practices, and to identify
solutions known to bring results.
While every country is unique, and most health problems are highly
context-specific, let me suggest a few ingredients for success taken
from vast international experience and some very solid evidence.
First, immunization is an easy win. Childhood immunization is one of
the most powerful, and cost-effective preventive interventions
available for safeguarding health.
Second, access to fair and affordable family planning services is
another easy win. This is clearly acknowledged in health policies in
Uzbekistan.
Third, reducing pregnancy in adolescent girls helps prevent low birth
weight babies, and protects these girls from life-long complications
that can mean a whole life spent in misery and social isolation.
Fourth, good nutrition plays a critical role for everyone, but
especially for pregnant and lactating women and young children.
As nutrition is on your agenda, you will be very familiar with the
reasons why the right diet is so important.
Recent evidence gives us more reasons to care about nutrition.
A child malnourished as a fetus or during the earliest years of life
has a significantly increased risk of developing chronic diseases,
like heart disease, cancer, and most especially diabetes.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As I close, let me wish Uzbekistan, its government, doctors, nurses
and other health care workers, its people, especially its mothers, new
babies, young children, and adolescents, all the very best as you move
forward in the right direction.
Your strategy, policies, and priorities are good ones.
Healthy mothers and healthy children are a clear route to future
generations that live in harmony. And this brings social as well as
physical health.
This is what everyone working in public health, and myself most
especially, wants to see.
Thank
you
RESOLUTION
OF TASHKENT INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM
“THE NATIONAL MODEL OF MATERNITY AND CHILDHOOD HEALTH PROTECTION IN
UZBEKISTAN: HEALTHY MOTHER – HEALTHY CHILD”
Tashkent, 25-26 November, 2011
On 25-26 November, 2011, Tashkent (Uzbekistan) hosted the
International Symposium dedicated to the priority area of Uzbekistan’s
state policy – «Healthy Mother – Healthy Child».
The Goal
of the Symposium was to introduce the international community to the
achievements of Uzbekistan in the field of maternity and childhood
health protection.
On the
25th of November, the program of the International Symposium included
inter alia the following activities:
-«The
Priority Actions for achieving the Millennium Development Goals 4 and
5 in the European Region» – with the participation of health ministers
and delegations from countries participating in the Symposium,
management and experts from international organizations;
-15 satellite conferences, master courses with participation of
leading scientists and professionals in the leading clinics and the
centers on the acute issues of maternity and childhood.
The main program of the Symposium was accomplished on the 26th of
November.
The International Symposium attracted about 1000 representatives of
government authorities, diplomatic missions accredited in Uzbekistan,
senators, deputies, public and international organizations, health
care professionals. About 230 officials of health care system
(including ministers and deputy ministers) and international
organizations, as well as international experts, reputed scientists
and professionals from about 40 countries of the world engaged with
great interest in discussion of outcomes of implementation of the
National Model of Maternity and Childhood Health Protection in
Uzbekistan.
The Symposium is of great importance for both Uzbekistan and all
countries of WHO European Region: in the round table, the Director of
WHO Regional Office for Europe Dr. Zsuzsanna Jakab presented status of
implementation of the commitments of the Goals 4 and 5 of the UN MDGs.
The
ministers of health and heads of delegations of the countries
participating in the Symposium, the UNICEF Regional Director in
Eastern Europe and CIS, the Director of the UNFPA Sub-regional office
in Central Asia, the Head of «Save the Children» country office and
international experts addressed the meeting. Following the
discussions, participants adopted the Resolution on Further Progress
in achieving Goals 4 and 5 in WHO European Region.
The great importance of the International Symposium for Uzbekistan,
WHO European region and the world’s health care community in general
was pre-defined by the participation of the President of the Republic
of Uzbekistan H.E. Islam Karimov and the WHO Director General Dr.
Margaret Chan.
The key-note speaker of the Symposium was Mr. A.Ikramov, the Minister
of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who presented the outcomes of
“The National Model of Maternity and Childhood Health Protection in
Uzbekistan: “Healthy Mother - Healthy Child". The speech aroused great
interest and Dr. Zsuzsanna Jakab, the Director of WHO Regional Office
for Europe, Mr. Steven Allen, the UNICEF Regional Director in Eastern
Europe and CIS, Mr. Nikolay Botev, the Director of the UNFPA
Sub-regional office in Central Asia, Mr. Noh Bo Kim, the Head of «Save
the Children» country office (Republic of Korea), Ms. Anita Nirod, the
UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan, members of the WHO
Executive Board, ministers of health and reputed health scientists and
professionals from different countries of the world engaged in
deliberations.
The outcomes of key directions of the National Model of Maternity and
Childhood Health Protection in Uzbekistan were discussed in the course
of 8 break-out sessions:
-Organization of outpatient pediatric care in health system reforms;
-Issues of providing emergency pediatric care;
-Current state and problems of specialized pediatric care;
-Modern perinatal and neonatal technologies based on the principles of
evidence-based medicine;
-Screening of mother and child is a key for prevention of congenital
and inherited diseases of children;
-Vaccine prophylaxis and communicable diseases among children;
-Reproductive health and nurturing health culture in family, rational
nutrition;
-Global partnership in achievement of the Millennium Development
Goals: outcomes and prospects.
Total number of participants of the break-out sessions comprised
around 600 people and the presentations thereof - 82. During 3
Teleconference Bridges, participants of the Symposium were introduced
to: examination of patients by health experts during the Week of
Fertile-age Women, Adolescent Girls, and Children Health in SVPs
(rural doctor’s stations) in Syrdarya region – which is carried out
monthly starting from the second half of 2009 in all regions of
Uzbekistan; operation of the Jizzakh Regional Screening Center;
Namangan Branch of the Republican Specialized Research and Practice
Medical Center of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
For each of the areas, the participants drafted recommendations on
further refinement of the works, which were included into the final
Resolution of the Symposium.
In compiling the Resolution, recommendations of the Round Table
discussions, satellite-conferences and master courses were taken into
account.
Following deliberations, the participants of the Tashkent
International Symposium “The National Model of Maternity and Childhood
Health Protection in Uzbekistan: “Healthy Mother - Healthy Child” held
on 25-26 November 2011
NOTED THE FOLOWING:
1. Acknowledge “The National Model of Maternity and Childhood Health
Protection in Uzbekistan: “Healthy Mother - Healthy Child" to be one
of the efficient strategies in achieving MDGs and significant
successes achieved in the fields of maternity and childhood health
protection in Uzbekistan.
2. Note, that thanks to consistent implementation of the activities on
reforming health care system, the country created holistic
organizational-institutional structure of providing health service,
which covers all levels of heath care starting from rural medical
stations, which provide primary medical-sanitary aid, to specialized
medical centers, which provide sophisticated health services to the
population.
3. Acknowledge the contribution and absolute commitment of Uzbekistan
to achieving the targets of Millennium Development Goals associated
with health protection and encouragement of sustainable multi-sectoral
activity as well as with Global Partnership in achieving those
targets.
4. Based on outcomes achieved in Uzbekistan in the field of maternity
and childhood health protection, recommend the following areas of
activity:
-Further capacity building of the health care staff and implementation
of practical methods of health protection proceeding from the
principles of evidence-based medicine, as recommended by the WHO and
UNICEF in relation to maternity and childhood health, improvement of
institutions and refinement of management of the system of
institutions of primary health care;
-Integration of emergency medicine service and modern technologies of
emergency obstetric and pediatric aid at all levels thereof; further
development of ambulance service and emergency medical aid;
-Further development of specialized pediatric care, building efficient
vertical system of organizing prophylaxis, early detection and therapy
of childhood illness in view of reduction of child/infant morbidity
and mortality; continuation of formation and introduction of clinical
guidance on evidence-based childhood illness;
-Universal access to high quality services on protection of maternal,
reproductive and child health including prophylaxis, improving health,
antenatal and prenatal care and providing quality services to pregnant
women, mothers and newborn; re-adjustment of prenatal and neonatal
care; continuation of development and introduction of evidence-based
clinical guidance and standards; confidential survey of maternal
mortality and audit of critical status in compliance with the WHO
techniques;
-Further development and refinement of the program of prenatal and
neonatal screening, introduction of modern evidence-based screening
technologies;
- Reaching and maintaining high level of timely immunization cover
(>90%) with vaccine prophylaxis of children according to the National
immunization calendar;
-Consolidation of activities of the region’s countries, international
community and international organizations to ensure
sanitary-and-epidemiological welfare. Improvement of monitoring and
control of fulfillment of the international medical-sanitary rules;
-Close collaboration and coordination of activity with government and
non-government agencies, and international organizations in view of
further stabilization and reduction of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and
malaria prevalence and disease incidence;
-Continuation of implementation of state programs on comprehensive
reinforcement of reproductive health and raising medical awareness of
population with involvement of relevant state, non-governmental,
public and international organizations;
-Large-scale advocacy of healthy life-style among youth and
continuation of improvement of pre-marital preparation to creating
healthy family;
-Further implementation of legislative, regulatory and legal framework
and programs on improvement of nutrition and prevention of
micro-nutrient deficiency, particularly among women of fertile age and
children. Ensuring lactation and rational introduction of additional
food for all children;
-Further improvement of inter-sectoral partnership through defining of
the input of every sector and encouragement of collaborative actions
on achieving MDGs targets associated with health protection;
-Continuation of improvement of information system on maternity and
childhood protection, family planning and addressing the needs of
vulnerable groups of population, development of monitoring tools and
facilitate justified decision making process and formulation of rules;
-Collaborative work with communities and civil society for planning
comprehensive programs;
-Call the UNO system and other partners for support of national
efforts on improving health and living conditions of mother and child.
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