Improved of nutritional health practices

In the period from 17 to 20 March, in Bishkek city a training was held for field coordinators of the KADC (Kyrgyz Ayildyk den Sooluk Committee) on the prevention of anemia, hand washing and clean toilets, improved methods for the production of fruits and vegetables, and safe food storage. The field coordinators from 7 oblasts, KADC coordinators, coordinators and specialists of components 2 and 3 of the “Agricultural Productivity and Nutrition Improvement Project” attended the training.

The primary purpose of the training was to increase public awareness of key messages about a varied diet, prevention of anemia and proper hygiene, safe storage of food and improved methods for the production of fruits and vegetables.

The following persons spoke with welcoming words at the training: the chief specialist of the Public Health Department of the Ministry of Health B. A. Ismailova, PIU Deputy Director U.T. Torogeldiyev.

Global topics such as anemia were discussed at the training. Since anemia is one of the urgent problems in Kyrgyzstan, as 43% of children under 5 years old suffer from anemia, which causes a delay in their intellectual and physical development, which leads to low incomes in the future. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) affects 35% of women of reproductive age, the consequences of which is a high predisposition of women to postpartum hemorrhage, and every third maternal mortality is associated with bleeding.

In addition, the issues of washing hands and clean toilets, existing barriers to the implementation of these simple actions to preserve health are discussed. The issue of improving the quality of nutrition throughout the world is considered one of the most reasonable economic decisions and for every Kyrgyz som invested in food, we can expect to receive 16 KGS by reducing health care costs.

Also the participants of workshop, tried to make a scientifically based crop rotation of six, seven vegetable crops and presented their crop rotation patterns, arguing the sequence of alternation of crops in their compiled examples. The audience was greatly interested in the question of soil analysis and the proper use of organic and mineral fertilizers. Information was provided on the types of these fertilizers, an example of the calculation of the rate of application of mineral fertilizers for various vegetable crops was given. The participants were greatly interested in the preparation of the soil and the methods of its treatment before sowing, the effect of treatment on the structure and fertility of the soil, etc.

The issues of safe storage of fruits and vegetables, including drying and freezing, were discussed. The advantages of freezing, which do not destroy nutrients and vitamin C, which are destroyed during the heat treatment of products, are considered. Freezing also takes less time and you can freeze all kinds of berries and fruits, tomatoes, pumpkins, beets, peppers, onions, etc. Drying and freezing are cheap and safe methods of storing food.

As for today, as part of the activities under component 3 “Measures to improve the nutritional quality”, the population and women were informed about the nutrition of children under 2 years old, as well as the diverse nutrition in the villages of the pilot aiyl aymak, where the modernization of I&D infrastructure and villages of adjacent aiyl aimak under the APNIP project.

At the end of the seminar, the participants demonstrated their acquired knowledge and skills in preventing anemia, washing hands, improving the cultivation of vegetables and safe food storage, and discussion of further plans and activities of keeping the public informed on important topics about the children and women health.