CENTRAL ASIA: Tajikistan to host regional forum on women's and children's health

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

ANKARA, 21 Sep 2005 (IRIN) - The Tajik capital, Dushanbe, will host this year's Central Asian Republics and Kazakhstan (CARK) Protection of Mothers' and Children's Forum on Thursday, bringing together 150 participants from all five countries.

"The forum is held on an annual basis and aims to improve the health of children and women in the area by promoting innovative, practical programmes and policies and cooperation among CARK countries," Yukie Mokuo, country representative for the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), said from Dushanbe.

Sponsored by the Tajik Ministry of Health, in partnership with UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), the forum, the ninth since its inception in 1997, brings together regional health officials, as well as international organisations.

The two-day meeting aims to assist in developing effective strategies for reducing morbidity rates and mortality among children, as well as to support local efforts towards the protection of their health and well being.

While countries in the region were reforming their health sectors, it was vital to maintain the well being of children and women's health and nutrition at the heart of such reform, Mokuo noted.

"Such conferences are a good opportunity to encourage more policy commitments of the CARK governments in this regard," the UNICEF official said.

Although surveys indicate that all five countries share similar problems with regard to maternal and children's health, the problems are particularly acute in Tajikistan, the most impoverished in the region.

According to UNICEF's 2005 State of the World's Children Report, the mountainous former Soviet state had the highest infant and child mortality rates at 92 and 118 per 1,000 live births respectively. In comparison, Kyrgyzstan had 68 and 59 per 1,000 live births.

Mokuo cited premature birth, pneumonia, asphyxia, congenital infections like diarrheal diseases and respiratory infections, and low birth weight as the primary causes. Behind these were a lack of awareness and improper care practices at home, poor quality of water and hygiene conditions, and poor nutritional status - most of which were also linked to poverty, which remains pervasive, despite recent economic growth, she noted.

"The government of Tajikistan has [made a] clear commitment in increasing public expenditures in the health sector, with a progressive reform scheme. This policy commitment of the government should be leading to better service delivery and improved access to quality health care," Mokuo claimed.

In parallel, it's essential to address the improvement of mother and child health status by improving the knowledge and practices at family level. This needs to be achieved by further strengthened community and family participation in healthcare issues, as well as improved informed consent between service providers and patients, she added.

The outcomes of the forum's discussions will be summarised in a resolution which will be issued at the end of the forum by the consensus of the five country health delegates.

"This will lead to further policy commitment of the CARK governments to move towards reducing child mortality and improving maternal mortality [rates] in Central Asia," she said, referring to the forum as a unique opportunity for Central Asian republics to share their experiences and knowledge on mother and child health issues.

[ENDS]