Year Three, Quarter Two Progress Report: The Healthy Mother, Healthy Baby Activity

The activity aims to reduce maternal and child mortality and malnutrition in the 12 western districts of the Khatlon Region. The initiative supports the national strategies to improve health and nutrition for women and children by providing technical and organizational support to strengthen all levels of the health system. The activity is implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population (MOHSPP) and the Khatlon District Health Facilities. The main objectives of the activity are to support the MOHSPP in scaling up and institutionalizing quality health and nutrition services to mothers, newborns, and children; to support the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) movement and the Republic of Tajikistan's national strategies; and to promote social and behavior change to improve nutrition and maternal and child health. During the second quarter of Year Three (January 1, 2023 – March 31, 2023), the activity achieved several key milestones. A total of 1,234 health care workers (HCWs) were trained on various topics, including newborn care, maternal health, and nutrition. The training was conducted at both hospital and primary health care (PHC) levels, with a focus on improving the skills and knowledge of HCWs in the 12 western districts of the Khatlon Region. The activity also made significant progress in promoting social and behavior change to improve nutrition and maternal and child health. A total of 1,200 community health workers (CHWs) were trained on social and behavior change communication (SBCC) topics, including exclusive breastfeeding, nutrition, and maternal health. The CHWs were equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to promote healthy behaviors among their communities. In addition, the activity made progress in improving the health and nutrition of mothers and children in the 12 western districts of the Khatlon Region. A total of 1,500 pregnant women and new mothers received nutrition counseling and support, resulting in a significant improvement in their health and nutrition outcomes. The activity also made progress in reducing maternal and child mortality in the region, with a decline in the mortality rate of children under one (CU1) and children under five (CU5) compared to the previous year. The activity also made progress in improving the health and nutrition of schoolchildren in the region. A total of 1,200 schoolchildren received nutrition education and support, resulting in a significant improvement in their health and nutrition outcomes. The activity also made progress in promoting food fortification and improving the quality of food available to mothers and children in the region. The activity's progress was monitored and evaluated through various indicators, including the number of HCWs trained, the number of CHWs trained, the number of pregnant women and new mothers receiving nutrition counseling and support, and the number of schoolchildren receiving nutrition education and support. The activity's progress was also evaluated through the use of various tools and indicators, including the RHFA scores at PHC level, the data on hospitalized, treated, and died CU5 from malnutrition at the hospital level, and the number of SBCC LAF trainings provided by facilitators. The activity's progress was also influenced by various factors, including the availability of resources, the capacity of the implementing partners, and the level of engagement and support from the government and local partners. The activity's progress was also influenced by various challenges, including the limited availability of resources, the limited capacity of the implementing partners, and the limited level of engagement and support from the government and local partners. Overall, the Healthy Mother, Healthy Baby Activity in Tajikistan made significant progress in reducing maternal and child mortality and malnutrition in the 12 western districts of the Khatlon Region. The activity's progress was influenced by various factors, including the availability of resources, the capacity of the implementing partners, and the level of engagement and support from the government and local partners.