Home-visiting programme protects and promotes the health and well-being of children and parents

TASHKENT, 9 March 2021 - UNICEF today handed over 50,000 copies of guidelines and pocketbooks on a universal-progressive model of home visiting to the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan.

These publications aim to improve services for pregnant, women who have delivered and children under the age of five at the Primary Health Care level such as the Polyclinic, which is the level where most people get all the basic health services they need: vaccines, prenatal care, and treatment for common yet life-threatening illnesses xxx.

“The pocketbook, will help health workers to ensure the optimal growth and development of children, identify families at-risk and provide extended, individual care for most vulnerable,” said Elmira Basitkhanova, Deputy Minister of Health.

The new tools were developed based on evidence-based international recommendations and standards on early childhood development, nutrition, and psycho-social support. They serve as guidance in improving the professional knowledge and skills of home visiting nurses.

Compelling research findings have demonstrated that home visiting programs can improve positive parenting as well as the health and wellbeing of both caregivers and children.

“A package of integrated family services is transformational and has a huge potential to bring a package of family services at the doorstep of families. The health system as the most natural entry point has the greatest connection and access to families, pregnant women and young children in both urban and rural settings including remote areas,” said Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative in Uzbekistan. “Home-visiting programmes are key and crucial at ensuring personalized care, assistance directly provided to families and communities in need, support parents and caregivers, and empower them to provide the best possible environment for their young children,” he added.

The introduction of the universal progressive model of home visiting can enhance home visiting interventions to caregivers undergoing socioeconomic difficulties, psychosocial stress, and other adverse circumstances, providing the additional support they need to take care of themselves and their children to ensure optimal growth and development.

The development and publication of a guideline and pocketbook is the first step in implementing the universal-progressive patronage model. UNICEF, together with the Ministry of Health, is planning to continue work in this direction. Now, a team of trainers is being prepared and will teach all visiting nurses on new methodology. The new model will be introduced into the system of pre and postgraduate training of nurses. As a result, all efforts will improve the quality of medical care and can provide families in need support and care.

For more information, please contact: 

Fakhriddin Nizamov, Health Officer

Phone: +998 93 399 05 57

E-mail: fnizamov@unicef.org

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Nargiza Egamberdieva, Communication Officer

Phone: +998 93 380 34 19

E-mail: negamberdieva@unicef.org