First National Mass Media Award in the framework of Flour Fortification Program
On the threshold of the Day of Journalists and Media the jury has summed up the results of the contest for the "First National Award in the Fields of Press, Television and Radio Broadcasting of the National Flour Fortification Programme" organized by the Ministry of Healthcare, UNICEF, and Journalists' Creative Union of Uzbekistan. On 23 June, the winners and participants of the contest gathered for a special ceremony at Radisson SAS Hotel. The leading specialist of the Cabinet of Ministers Tanzila Norbaeva, Deputy Minister of Healthcare Asomiddin Kamilov, chairman of the Journalists' Creative Union of Uzbekistan Sherzod Gulamov, Representative of Uzdonmahsulot (Uzbek Grain Products) Joint-Stock Company Lyudmila Grifina, World Bank specialist Dilnara Isamiddinova, as well as administration of different media of Uzbekistan attended the event.
The iron deficiency has negative impacts such as: • Causes anaemia, which leads to increasing children and women mortality and morbidity; In her speech, the leading specialist of the Cabinet of Ministers, member of the National Alliance for Fortification Tanzila Narbaeva said, "The history of the project dates back to 2001, when with the support of the Asian Development Bank a programme was started in Uzbekistan on iron and vitamin fortification of flour and iodine fortification of salt. A lot has been done since that moment, and a lot needs to be done ahead. Successful functioning of the programme largely depends on the population's awareness of the importance of the problem raised. The determining role in raising population's awareness belongs to you, journalists. This award is the recognition of your achievements in elucidation of the benefits of fortified flour and prophylactic of anaemia among the general public, and especially among children and women. The contribution of the mass media is invaluable for the whole programme." The contest was announced on 22 December 2005 with the purpose of motivating media representatives in elucidation of the prophylactic of iron-deficiency anaemia, as well as stimulating a general rise in the demand for fortified flour and baked products. Over 130 works of the journalist of national and regional media were submitted, including television and radio- programmes, printed articles and photographs. All works were appraised by competent jury according to several criteria. The purpose of this contest is to give more attention to the fighting with deficit of micronutrients like iron and motivating mass media to cover such issues. “It is no longer an issue of single cases treatment”, said Carol Bellamy, UNICEF former Director “This problem has a global character for its horrifying impacts even as a result of minor deficit of minerals and vitamins”. It is required a small amount of iron in everyday nutrition to safeguard development of a child and health of a mother. The contest does not end for the journalists at this point. Rustam Haydarov, Communication and Marketing Officer of National Flour Fortification Programme, said, "This contest will be conducted on annual basis. The presentation of the technical conditions of the contest "Second National Award in the Fields of Press, Television and Radio Broadcasting" will be held in the early July 2006. The results of this contest will be summed up in January-February 2007".
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