The Communication Initiative Network

Where communication and media are central to social and economic development

Kyrgyz-Swiss Health Reform Support Project

Country

Kyrgyzstan

Programme Summary

Formerly called "Community Action for Health", the Kyrgyz-Swiss Health Reform Support Project works to develop the participation of civil society in health reforms and to empower local rural communities to improve their health rather than passively waiting for the state to do something. It is founded on the belief that communities can increase their power to control the things that affect their health and lives.

Communication Strategies

Through the project, communities analyse their health priorities and elect representatives to health committees to coordinate action on these priorities. Campaigns launched on the priorities selected by the communities have included: promoting iodized salt; brucellosis prevention; promoting vegetable gardening; reducing alcohol abuse; access to treatment of reproductive tract infections; and addressing cardiovascular diseases, anaemia, hypertension, and tobacco consumption. For example, the iodized salt promotion campaign enabled communities to check the salt sold in their villages with simple test kits. It achieved a coverage rate of iodized salt in 98% of households. As of November 2008, a total of 807 villages have set up their own village health committee.

Development Issues

Health, Rights.

Key Points

In 1999 the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) started to support other donors in the health sector through the Kyrgyz-Swiss Health Reform Support Project. Initially, the geographic focus of the project was on Naryn oblast which is the largest and poorest in Kyrgyzstan. A qualitative assessment of people's health priorities revealed brucellosis, anaemia, hypertension, cold/influenza, reproductive tract infections (RTI), and dental diseases as the most prevalent. Nutrition, clean drinking water, hygiene and access to drugs were identified as the most important health needs in Naryn oblast.

During phase II, health promotion became the main focus of the project through the development of a community centred health promotion strategy for rural areas, called Community Action for Health. Phases III and IV saw the expansion of the project to the rest of the country of Kyrgyzstan. The project is currently (March 2009) in phase V.

Partners

Swiss Red Cross, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), and the Ministry of Health in Kyrgyzstan.

Contact

Kyrgyz-Swiss-Swedish Health Project

187 Sidikova Street, Office #1

Bishkek
720040
Kyrgyzstan
Tel: +996 312 90 63 10
Fax: + 996 312 90 63 30


Placed on the Communication Initiative site March 19 2009
Last Updated March 19 2009



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