Tajikistan Maternal and Child Health Program Quarterly Report # 19

The project is in its fifth year of implementation in the Mastcho, Taboshar, and Gonchi districts of Sughd Oblast and in Hisor district of the Region of Republican Subordination (RRS). The project targets 220,068 people, including 127,231 women of reproductive age and 92,837 children under five. The project's objectives are to increase the percentage of mothers with children less than two years old practicing improved feeding, caring, and health-seeking practices; increase the percentage of women receiving adequate maternal and newborn care; and increase the capacity of the district-level Department of Health (DoH) to deliver quality maternal and child health services. During the reporting period of April 1, 2013, to June 30, 2013, MCH Community Health Educators (CHEs) delivered health education sessions on Complementary Feeding in all MCH districts. The main incentive for these sessions was to improve the nutrition knowledge of women with children under the age of two years. Additionally, MCH along with CHEs continued refresher health education sessions on diarrhea as a sub-topic for target communities. The project also organized a series of activities dedicated to the World Child Protection Day on June 1, 2013, in collaboration with Centers for Healthy Lifestyles (CHLs), district departments of health (DoHs), and local jamoats in all MCH districts. These activities included competitions and quizzes, and the winners were awarded with prizes and gifts. Banners and posters displaying images dedicated to children were prepared by the Center for Healthy Lifestyle. In collaboration with the district Primary Health Care, Safe Motherhood Department, and CHLs, a cross visit was carried out in Urtakurgon village of Gonchi district. The cross visits were dedicated to International Nurses Day and were held among medical workers who could share experiences and lessons learned and discuss future steps to move forward in implementing effective and efficient Safe Motherhood (SM) activities at health facilities. The project has started expanding to cover 12 districts of Khatlon, including Shartuz, Qubudiyon, Jilikul, Nosori Khisrav, Yovon, Jomi, Rumi (Kolkhozobod), Khuroson, Vakhsh, Bokhtar, Qumsangir, and Sarband. Over the next two and a half years, Mercy Corps will apply the highly successful strategies and lessons learned from Sughd Oblast and Hissor District to improve health and nutrition of women and children in these impoverished areas. The project has made progress in quantitative terms towards Objective 2 of MCH, which is to increase the percentage of women receiving adequate maternal and newborn care. The project has also increased the capacity of the DoH facilities to deliver quality maternal and child health services. The project has also strengthened the collaboration with different divisions of the Department of Health (DOH), Healthy Lifestyles Centers (HLSCs), Local Authorities, and Village Development Committees (VDCs) to improve the quality of care for maternal and child health and promote the adoption of healthy behaviors through key interventions. The project has made significant progress in improving the health and nutrition of women and children in the target districts. The project has increased the capacity of the DoH facilities to deliver quality maternal and child health services, and has strengthened the collaboration with different divisions of the Department of Health (DOH), Healthy Lifestyles Centers (HLSCs), Local Authorities, and Village Development Committees (VDCs) to improve the quality of care for maternal and child health and promote the adoption of healthy behaviors through key interventions. The project has made significant progress in improving the health and nutrition of