Successes Reviewed and Plans Made
The significant developments undertaken by the Uzbekistan government in regards to maternal and child health, with the support of international UN agencies, were discussed during last weekend’s international symposium on the “National Model of Maternal and Child Healthcare in Uzbekistan: Healthy Mother – Healthy Child”. Taking place at Tashkent’s recently opened Marifat Markazi (EnlightenmentCenter) on the 26th of November, the event was a good opportunity to exchange concepts regarding the health reforms implemented byUzbekistan since the nation’s independence in 1991. These necessary reforms have focused on the protection of maternal and child health, the insurance of healthy childhood in Uzbekistan, and the creation of a national health model, while advancing the nation towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
As a broad-scale international symposium, this joint event was created by the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov,Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Health, and UN agencies including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Children’s (UNICEF) and the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA). Consequently the event was attended by the president himself, representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Director-General of the World Health Organisation Margaret Chan, the UN Resident Coordinator Anita Nirody, the Regional Director, WHO Regional office for Europe Zsuzsanna Jakab, the UNICEF Regional Director in Eastern Europe and CIS Steven Allen, UNFPA Regional Director Nikolay Bota, and other representatives of WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA, as well as WB, GIZ and other organizations . Also present were more that 300 world-renowned academics and the representatives of international organisations, such as the heads of relevant UN agencies and the ministries of health from almost 36 countries including the USA, the UK, Russia, Canada and Germany.
The President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov opened the international symposium by expressing his gratitude to participants and in particular to WHO Director General Margaret Chan, awarding her with the order ‘Sog’lom Avlod Uchun’ (For the Healthy Generation) of the First Degree for the outstanding service in organizing the activities of the WHO, advancing primary medical aid, implementing the Global Strategy on Mother and Child Healthcare. In her following speech, Ms. Chan expressed her gratitude for the award and spoke of the efforts undertaken by the Uzbekistan government in addressing the medical issues related to maternal and child health. She also met with President Karimov at the Oqsaroy residence, where they reiterated that the conducting of the international symposium and its attendance by distinguished individuals and organisations from around the globe, illustrated the world’s recognition of Uzbekistan’s achievements in the field of maternal and child healthcare.
After welcoming speech made by Ms. Chan, UNICEF Regional Director for CEECIS Steven Allen reflected on his agencies commitment to working in cooperation with government partners. “I would like to thank the Government of Uzbekistan for organising this international symposium focusing on maternal and child health.” He said “UNICEF remains committed to collaborating with the Government of Uzbekistan, as indeed all the countries in the region, to accelerate health sector reform, to implement low cost and high impact innovations so that every child and every mother, including the most disadvantaged, can realise their right to health, nutrition and wellbeing.”