SUPPORT FOR NATIONWIDE ACTIVITIES TO PROVIDE MICRONUTRIENTS AND VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS IN PHC IN TAJIKISTAN
A roundtable discussion on “Support for nationwide activities to provide micronutrients and vitamin supplements in PHC in Tajikistan” was held at the SI “National Library of Tajikistan” as part of the “Strengthening Resilience of the Agriculture Sector Project”. Participants included Zohir Nabiev, Head of the Department for Maternal and Child Health Services and Family Planning at the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Republic of Tajikistan, Khayriniso Yusufi, Goodwill Ambassador for Women’s Cancer, Boymurod Kurbonzoda, Deputy Director of the “Agriculture Entrepreneurship Development” State Institution, heads of reproductive health centers, and representatives from medical facilities focused on maternal and child health.
Opening the roundtable, Zohir Nabiev, Head of the Department for Maternal and Child Health Services and Family Planning at the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Republic of Tajikistan, noted that improving nutrition is crucial for improving public health.
It was noted that failure to comply with nutritional rules and requirements leads to increased maternal and child mortality. Hundreds of thousands of people die every year worldwide as a result of malnutrition.
It should be noted that the World Bank-financed “Strengthening Resilience of the Agriculture Sector Project” is being implemented within the framework of the “Support for nationwide activities to provide micronutrients and vitamin supplements in PHC in Tajikistan” program, which is based on food support for development of the “Population Health Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan until 2030,” including Section 3 “Food Security and Access to Quality Nutrition.”
As part of the “Strengthening Resilience of the Agriculture Sector Project”, micronutrients for pregnant women and vitamin supplements for children aged 6 to 59 months were procured and distributed based on clinical recommendations.
This event was planned to increase the knowledge of primary health care specialists and engage the media.
In 2019, the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan adopted the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On Providing the Population with Fortified Food Products” to protect public health and prevent nutrition-related diseases by food fortification. As part of this law implementation, the “Program for Prevention of Micronutrient Deficiency and Related Diseases among the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan for 2022-2027” was approved by Government Resolution No. 415 dated September 30, 2021.
Following the roundtable discussion, several participants expressed their views on the implementation of the “Strengthening Resilience of the Agriculture Sector Project” subcomponent and “Support for nationwide activities to provide micronutrients and vitamin supplements in PHC in Tajikistan”.
