AKF Annual Report - Aga Khan Development Network

children living in remote areas. Central kindergartens operate on a
“half-day shift”, with a morning and afternoon session, so as to reach
more children. This also creates a schedule that is more appropriate for
young children.
In 2006, AKF/MSDSP and the Ministry of Education, Science and
Youth signed a Memorandum of Understanding for Early Childhood
Development. Materials were developed and workshops conducted
– with the Aga Khan School and Osh Institute of Upgrading Teachers
– on active teaching-learning methodologies for grade one teachers.
SPOTLIGHT:
Community Health
In 2004, when the MSDSP’s Community Health Programme Unit was
started, the health system of the Kyrgyz Republic was poorly financed,
clinical practices were outdated and medical facilities had minimal
supplies and equipment. Moreover, the Soviet tradition of treating illness
rather than promoting health persisted.
As part of the reform of the health sector, MSDSP began initiating health
promotion and disease prevention interventions in the remote villages
of Osh Oblast.
During 2006, this programme trained over 200 village volunteers to
serve as Community Health Promoters and formed 45 Village Health
Committees to raise awareness on issues related to malnutrition,
vitamin deficiency, communicable diseases, safe water and sanitation,
as well as maternal health. These volunteers and committees work
with government health professionals to promote and provide primary
health care.
The first harvest of MSDSP’s Kitchen
Garden project has produced tomatoes
and carrots, among other vegetables,
which will help address vitamin deficiencies
in communities at high altitude.
In 2006, AKF supported 60 MSDSP Kitchen Gardens that provided
vegetables to more than 320 beneficiaries. These harvests are expected
to produce vegetables rich in vitamins to help address the nutritional
deficiencies that are common among communities living in remote, high
altitude regions.
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