On August 9, 2019, at the state enterprise “Dushanbe Plaza” there was held a round table on the official launch of the “Maternal and child health integrated care project” (Asian Development Bank Grant – 0627 TJ (SF)) – under the Ministry of health and social protection of the population of the Republic of Tajikistan
The roundtable was attended by the Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan Olimzoda Nasim Khoja, Head of Project Management, Social and Economic Unit, Central and West Asia Department of ADB HQ Eiko Izawa, Head of ADB Project Management Unit in the Republic of Tajikistan Raza Farruh, Assistant to the Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan Dilorom Sodikova, World Health Organization Director in the Republic of Tajikistan Martha Everard, Manager of the PAG “Maternal and child health integrated care project” Isfandiyor Mahmudzoda, development partners, heads of a number of departmental ministries, PHC managers of pilot districts and journalists.
The Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan, Mr. Olimzoda Nasim Khoja opened the Round Table and noted that various projects are being implemented in the framework of bilateral cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Asian Development Bank, especially in the field of health and social protection, as well as in the development of various areas of the sector.
Taking this opportunity, on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan, I would like to express my deep gratitude to ADB for its comprehensive support in the implementation of the project and the sustainable development of maternal and child health; it should be mentioned that this project along with other implemented ones in the past will be effective.
For the purpose of effective and purposeful use of investment funds to improve the level and quality of health services for mothers and children, based on the decree of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan from December 31, 2018 No. 1169 on Grant Agreement between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Asian Development Bank the implementation of the “Maternal and Child Health Integrated Care Project” was launched in health facilities of the Rasht and Faizobod districts of the republican subordination and Shamsiddin Shohin of Khatlon province.
Grant Agreement between the Republic of Tajikistan and the Asian Development Bank on “Maternal and child health integrated care project” (Asian Development Bank Grant – 0627 TJ (SF)) – under the Ministry of health and social protection of the population of the Republic of Tajikistan was approved by the resolution of Majlisi Namoyandagon of Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan on March 6, 2019, No. 1300 (ratification) and entered into force on March 29, 2019, №5-5-360 by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan.
The total project cost is US $ 35.2 million, of which US $ 3.2 million is the contribution of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan.
The project implementation has begun on March 29, 2019 and is scheduled to be completed on August 31, 2025.
In the course of the roundtable Head of Project Management, Social Sector, Central and West Department of the Asian Development Bank, Ms. Eiko Izawa,
Head of ADB Project Management Unit in the Republic of Tajikistan Mr. Raza Farrukh, Director of the World Health Organization in the Republic of Tajikistan Ms. Martha Everard spoke on the cooperation of the Republic of Tajikistan with ADB and the development partners, as well as the goals and objectives of the project.
Assistant of the Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Republic of Tajikistan Dilorom Sodiqova made a speech on the project, noting that maternal and child health care takes a prominent place in the policy of the Government and is under close control of the Founder of the National Peace and Unity, the Leader of the Nation, the President of the Republic of Tajikistan His Excellency Emomali Rahmon.
In the course of the Round Table the Manager of the Project Administration Group “Maternal and child health integrated care project” under the Ministry of health and social protection of the population of the Republic of Tajikistan provided detailed information on the project, its goals and objectives, noting the three phases; “Improving Quality Integrated Services for Maternal and Child Health”, which includes: improvement of planning and capacity building of human resources by developing a strategy for personnel planning and distribution, through training of PHC staff and hospital and maternity care services in pilot districts and educational institutions, implementation and monitoring of referral system on maternal and child health services and training on referrals protocols, providing technical assistance in designing and implementing system of continuous improvement of quality and piloting case-based financing in hospitals of pilot districts.
The second phase of the project, “Improvement and modernization of maternal and child health services”, consists of the following: the construction and rehabilitation of central district hospitals and district health centers in the pilot areas of the project, provision of polyclinics and PHC facilities with medical equipment and furniture in the pilot areas of the project, support equipment management system by providing equipment for the provision of services and strengthening the capacity of personnel on equipment maintenance.
“Improvement of knowledge on maternal and child health and health seeking behaviors in project districts.”,-is the third phase of the project which aims to fulfill the following objectives: build the capacity of the Republican Healthy Lifestyle Center for developing a behavior change communication (BCC) plan, and for monitoring, evaluating, and reporting the plan; design and implement district-specific knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) surveys; and design district-specific BCC implementation plans based on the findings of the baseline KAP survey; carry out community mobilization activities to promote social norms that support collective MCH objectives and challenge harmful practices; and develop the BCC skills of health workers and community members.
It was reported that the aim of the project is to improve integrated maternal and child health services, through better planning and strengthening of human resources, to develop a strategy for planning and proper distribution of personnel for the target areas, to introduce an effective system of patients between primary health care and hospitals, to integrate vertical programs into the structure of primary health care, to improve the quality control system at the national, regional and local levels, and to establish a system of health care, the introduction of case-based financing, the improvement of infrastructure in hospitals and primary health care facilities, through the construction and repair of facilities, the provision of medical equipment and furniture, the improvement of equipment management and equipment maintenance in the target districts.
Following the completion of the roundtable discussion there was held a press conference with the participation of the Assistant to the Minister Dilorom Sodiqova, Project Manager Mr. Mahmudzoda I.S. and heads of a number of the departmental ministries.
During the press conference, the journalists asked questions about various aspects of the “Maternal and child health integrated care project”, and Assistant Minister Dilorom Sodikova and Project Manager Mahmudzoda I.S. answered their questions.
It was noted that the official website of the “Maternal and child health integrated care project” (ADB grant 0627 – TAJ (SF)) under the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population could be accessed at (www.adbmch.tj) for additional information.
