Home Health Project

Location: Jangi Dekon, Jalalabat Oblast

Project Description and Objectives

The goal of the project is to improve the health of families in rural Kyrgyzstan through health education focused on disease prevention, and basic treatment. The project also addresses the social and emotional aspects of good health. Participants are required to teach what they are learning with a minimum of 5 other families. This helps the participants themselves to better understand and remember the information, as well as multiplying the effect of the project. All participants and the families that they teach receive a copy of the home health book For the Health of Your Family. This is a translation of a popular home health book that has been used throughout the world to improve the health of families and is now available in over 50 languages. The project was carried out in coopeartion with the Jangi Dekon village leader and medical station.

Major Activities Completed and Results

The CDI Home Health Project of 2010 was a completion of the project begun in the previous year. In the final phase of the project in Jangi Dekon, four more individuals completed the 10-lesson training, with a few more attending some seminars but not completing the program. Those who received the entire training in turn passed it on to a total of 14 more families. Each family and trainer received a copy of the book For the Health of Your Family. An additional copy was given to the kindergarden for use by the medical staff there.

Topics covered in the training included dealing with diseases such as influenza, hepititis A, tuberculosis, and worms. There were also lessons on wound care, nutrition, anemia, and issues with pregnancy. Social and emotional topics included wholistic health, family relationships, and true beauty.

Participants in the program commented that their behavior changed regarding washing their hands and boiling drinking water. They used the information in the health book to bring relief to sinus trouble. They expressed appreciation for the information on tuberculosis and feminine hygiene. One participant commented, “I taught the students at the school what I learned about worms and hepatitis A. I want your lessons plans so I can continue to teach the students about health.” The lessons regarding relationships motivated some comments as well. One participant told us, “My relationship with my husband is better because I am more peaceful and forgiving, not angry with him as much.”

This program is complete in the village of Jangi Dekon. Intial steps were taken to begin the project in another village, but the events of April and June 2010 required suspending this effort. Plans are being made to restart the program in summer 2011.