DUSHANBE, May 28, Asia-Plus — On Tuesday May 28, in Dushanbe, the USAID ZdravPlus Health Reform Project in Tajikistan together with the Head of City Health Administration Mr. Temurov Abumuslim presided at an award ceremony for “THE BEST MOTHER” contest in Tajikistan, according to the US Embassy in Dushanbe.
The contest supported efforts by the Dushanbe City Health Administration to promote Family Medicine amongst the population.
The “BEST MOTHER” contest was aimed at improving public awareness of health information, supporting community needs, and support the Ministry of Health’s efforts to turn the health care system into a more responsive and equitable service.
The contest was initiated by the City Health Administration and the City Family Medicine Association. Announced on April 10, 2008, the contest finished on May 28, 2008 and consisted of two stages. The first stage took place at the Health Center level in which 14 City Health Centers participated. The winners from this first stage then became eligible to continue the competition on second stage (City level). Over 5000 mothers with children up to five years old participated in the contest with 130 finalists invited for the second round. Of these, 14 mothers were selected as Best Mothers. The selection criteria used included the level of mothers’ awareness on different early childhood heath topics such as immunization, breastfeeding, TB, IMCI, mental health and knowledge on the Convention on the Rights of the Child. All of these topics are vital in raising a healthy child, as well establishing standards of family medicine specialists’ performance.
The City Health Administration, City Family Medicine Association and the USAID ZdravPlus Health Reform Project worked together on this contest.
The USAID ZdravPlus Health Reform Project is one of the many assistance projects implemented in Tajikistan by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on behalf of the American people. Since 1993 the American people through USAID have provided about $300 million in assistance programs that support economic growth, democratic institutions, health care, and education systems of Tajikistan.
