Dushanbe, Tajikistan March 10, 2021 - The U.S Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population, launched the new USAID Healthy Mother, Healthy Baby Activity. This five-year, $17.3 million activity works with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population and the Khatlon District Health Facilities to reduce maternal and child mortality and malnutrition in the 12 western districts of the Khatlon Province.
The USAID Healthy Mother, Healthy Baby Activity will provide technical support to strengthen all levels of Tajikistan’s health system and work to influence social norms on nutrition and health care for mothers and children to promote the adoption of healthier behaviors.
The USAID Healthy Mother, Healthy Baby Activity builds on achievements of the previous USAID health and nutrition interventions that helped to reduce stunting rates among children under five years old, from 25 percent to 18 percent, and reduce wasting from 11 percent to six percent. USAID continues to support activities that lead to improved nutrition outcomes in Khatlon province.
As part of this activity, USAID digitized the World Health Organization’s Rapid Health Facility Assessment, which assessed the needs of local health facilities. The findings led to the development of detailed action plans, technical assistance, and improved decision-making in hospital maternity departments and primary health centers. The results showed how digitization can help improve decision-making and thus the quality of care for Tajik mothers and babies.
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USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. For more information, visit: https://www.usaid.gov/tajikistan
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