The agreement embodies a joint commitment by the three partners to strengthen health governance, improve quality of care for mothers and children, and promote health-seeking practices among families and communities.

The agreement marks a continuation of the successful partnership between the Ministry of Public Health, UNICEF and the EU. The implementation of phase I of the IMCHS Development Cooperation Programme, from 2008 to 2011, has significantly contributed to health sector reform, particularly in the areas of mother and child health.

IMCHS phase I provided compelling evidence that an integrated package of newborn and child survival interventions from the pre-pregnancy stage to childhood can reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality, thus bringing the country closer to attaining Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 – goals relating to child and maternal health – with equity.

The achievements of IMCHS Phase I are reflected in the ‘National Model of Mother and Child Health-care in Uzbekistan: Healthy Mother – Healthy Child’ which was acclaimed at an international symposium held in Tashkent on 25 and 26 November 2011 and inaugurated by the President of Uzbekistan. One of the recommendations of the Symposium was to build linkages between MCH and other components of the public health system such as immunisation, nutrition, hygiene promotion, HIV prevention and care

UNICEF has been a trusted partner of the Ministry of Public Health throughout the process, improving healthcare quality by building the capacity of health professionals to deliver cost-effective, high-impact interventions.

Through policy dialogue with a range of stakeholders and development partners – including the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) – and through programme interventions on the ground, UNICEF has been well placed to provide quality assurance and technical oversight in a holistic and sustainable manner. This will carry over into the implementation of IMCHS phase II.

IMCHS II will use the ‘continuum of care’ approach to the health and well-being of the mother and child – focusing on pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, child birth, infancy and early childhood.

On the advocacy side, the project will focus on reviewing and strengthening normative frameworks, health financing and governance systems, and supporting supervision and rigorous monitoring.

On the service delivery side, it will focus on building the capacity of the health workforce to deliver comprehensive, state-of-the art care in accordance with international standards. It will also upgrade curricula of medical institutes in line with international standards, implement best practices, and improve supply and logistics planning.

On the demand side, IMCHS II will work with caregivers, families and communities to address social and cultural barriers to equitable health access. It will also promote positive health, nutrition and hygiene practices at the household level.

The project is valued at €5,718,770. It will be implemented in all the regions of Uzbekistan during three and half years.

Photo (from left to right): Head of EU delegation in Uzbekistan Norbert Jousten, Deputy Health Minister of Uzbekistan Assomiddin Kamilov, acting head of UNICEF Office in Uzbekistan Savita Varde-Naqvi (UNICEF Uzbekistan/2012/Atoev)