Tashkent hosts international mother and child health event

November 26, 2011

On November 25-26 Tashkent hosted an international symposium titled “National model of maternal and child health care in Uzbekistan: Healthy mother – healthy child”, organized by the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan, the WHO and the UNFPA with the Women’s Council, “In the Name of Life” National Breast Cancer Association, Mehr nuri Foundation and the SISF as organizing partners. The event bought together heads and representatives of major international organizations, heads of health ministries of roughly 40 countries as well as scientists, doctors and experts.

The symposium was given the goal of focusing on and drawing international attention to Uzbekistan’s achievements in public healthcare. Among the priorities in Uzbekistan’s healthcare system are issues in mother and child health and exchange of experience and proposals on achieving global goals in this area. The government-adopted healthcare programs are implemented in close cooperation with the WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP as well as with active support from several public and nongovernmental organizations in Uzbekistan such as the Fund Forum, Mehr nuri Foundation, the Women’s Council, “In the Name of Life” National Breast Cancer Association and the Social Initiatives Support Fund (SISF). Those attending had the opportunity to attend a photo exhibition focusing on these organizations’ activities, held as part of the two-day symposium.

The international symposium included plenary and section sessions attended by representatives of the Fund Forum’s partner organizations as well as workshops and cultural functions. The eight sections featured discussions and recommendations to be included in the final resolution of the symposium.

At Section 4 – “Modern prenatal and neonatal technologies based on the principles of evidence-based medicine” – a representative of Mehr nuri Foundation made a speech that focused on the reconstruction and equipment of medical institutions to improve services provided for women and children. The Foundation is known for its activities in the reconstruction of maternity homes, nurseries, schools and medical institutions. Also, this section included a TV conference with with the Namangan branch of the Scientific and Practical Medical center for Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as featuring speeches by experts from Russia, Germany, South Korea and Israel.

The speech by a representative of the Women’s Council emphasized the role of nongovernmental organizations in supporting mother and child health. The Women’s Council projects are aimed at providing social support for children, women and families and popularizing a healthy lifestyle and charitable activities. Thousands of mothers are involved in the organization’s activities across the country. The key goal of “In the Name of Life” National Breast Cancer Association is to contribute toward efforts to prevent cancerous diseases among women. Emphasis is made on the prevention and early detection of breast cancer as well as on the medico-social and psychological support of women diagnosed with breast cancer. The two reports were delivered at Section 7 “Reproductive health, formation of a medical culture in families and rational diet”, which also included speeches on healthy eating by professionals from Spain, Belgium, Kazakhstan and organizations such as the WHO and UNICEF. The section was moderated by Shakhnoza Umarova, the director of “In the Name of Life” Association.

During Section 8 “Global partnership in achieving the Millennium Development Goals: results and prospects” the SISF, which collaborates closely with Uzbek regional nongovernmental organizations in healthcare, education, ecology, social support and infrastructure, provided a detailed outline of the activities overseen by the Fund, namely its efforts to reduce child mortality and improvement of maternal health. This includes an advocacy of healthy lifestyles, improvement of medical culture and awareness campaigns among fertile-age and pregnant women as well as puberty-age girls through interactive training, workshops, special campaigns and provision of published materials.

The international symposium recognized Uzbekistan’s national model of maternal and child health care as an effective government program and concluded with the adoption of a resolution of the symposium.