Families enjoy learning about childcare while flying
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, 30 January 2009 – Passengers flying domestically by Turkmen Airlines now can spend a quality flight time reading and learning from a newly published reference booklet on child care practices for parents. Dissemination of child survival and development messages on board the domestic flights is part of the initiative launched two years ago by the United Nations Children’s Fund, Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan and Turkmen Airlines.
The information booklet on childcare “Advise to Parents” has been placed in airline seat pockets and available to all passengers to read. Life saving information published in the booklet educates caregivers on how to prevent children’s diarrhoea, cold and cough, HIV/AIDS, and injury. Readers will also learn about benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, adequate nutrition, immunization, good hygiene practices, early childhood development and ensuring child’s rights.
To receive passengers’ feedback on the effectiveness of the initiative, UNICEF and the Health Information Centre under the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry carried out a formative evaluation. The evaluation showed that families took a keen interest in reading communication materials on child care during the flights and found information very useful. A new look of the publication “Advise to Parents” was created based on recommendations of the evaluation respondents.
UNICEF believes that such an innovative programme on disseminating messages during the flights will contribute to promotion of family and community child care practices and will result in a positive behavioural change among parents.
For more information please contact:
Mr. Ayadil Saparbekov UNICEF Health and Nutrition Specialist Phone: +99312 425681/82/86/86 Fax: +99312 420830 Email: asaparbekov@unicef.org
Ms. Gulyalek Soltanova UNICEF Communication Officer Phone: +99312 425681/82/86/86 Fax: +99312 420830 Email: gsoltanova@unicef.org Web: http://www.unicef.org/turkmenistan
|
