The Feed the Future Tajikistan Health and Nutrition Activity

The project empowers over 1,300 volunteer community health promoters to work in Feed the Future's target districts in southwestern Tajikistan. These volunteers educate their communities on various health issues, including pregnancy nutrition, breastfeeding, and complementary feeding for young children. In the village of Navkoram, a resident named Gulmoh Rahimova gave birth to a long-awaited daughter in October 2017. Initially, Rahimova planned to feed the baby only formula, but her mother-in-law, Rajabmoh Rahmatulloeva, a teacher and community health promoter, persuaded her to breastfeed exclusively. Rahmatulloeva provided Rahimova with specific advice on how to properly apply the baby to the breast, the frequency and duration of each feeding, and the health benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby. As a result of the project's efforts, attitudes about breastfeeding have changed in many families. Rahimova's family has saved approximately $550 over six months by not purchasing expensive formula. One pack of baby formula in Tajikistan costs 60 to 100 somoni ($8-10), and it lasts for three to seven days, depending on the child's age. The project has also established a successful collaboration between volunteers and healthcare providers, with over 400 educational events hosted in 2018. The Feed the Future Tajikistan Health and Nutrition Activity closely cooperates with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan in carrying out the World Breastfeeding Decade. Health fairs will be held in each target district, public events about breastfeeding will be organized in 380 rural health centers, and a competition on nutrition information for patients will be held among healthcare providers. The project runs from 2015 to 2020. The project's impact is evident in the success stories of families like Rahimova's. Her daughter recently turned seven months old and is happy and healthy. The project's efforts have not only improved the health and nutrition of mothers and children but also preserved family budgets. The average salary in Tajikistan was reported to be $139 per month in March 2018, making the financial benefits of breastfeeding significant for many families.