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Visit of UNDP and UNFPA’s delegation in Karakalpakstan

Three representatives from the UNDP, UNFPA, and Japan visited Nukus, in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, on 25 November.
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Nukus, 1 December 2021 (GNP/ TDI): Three representatives from the UNDP, UNFPA, and Japan visited Nukus, in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan, on 25 November. The reason for the visit was to oversee the results of the joint UNDP and UNFPA Program. The Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uzbekistan, Matilda Dimovska; was among the visitors.

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Uzbekistan, Yoshinori Fujiyama, also paid a visit to Nukus. Finally, the Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Uzbekistan, Yu Yu, was also in Nukus.

According to the note, the first purpose of their visit was to meet national partners. Their visit had other purposes too like the discuss cooperation prospects. The final purpose of the and to familiarize with the implementation of joint initiatives in the Aral Sea region.

https://twitter.com/UNDP_Uzbekistan/status/1464188200679845892

INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES AND INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEER DAY

Dimovska, Fujiyama, and Yu, also visited Nukus to launch infrastructure facilities, to improve the rural district infrastructure. Dimovska, Fujiyama, and Yu, also participated in the celebration of International Volunteer Day.

UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan, Matilda Dimovska with the UNFPA Representative, Yu Yu
UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan, Matilda Dimovska with the UNFPA Representative, Yu Yu

The Joint UNDP-UNFPA Programme organized the visit of the three representatives. That Program has the title of Building the resilience of local communities against health, environmental and economic insecurities caused by environmental destruction in the Aral Sea region. According to the note, the Government of Japan funded the Program.

KARAKALPAKSTAN JOKARGY KENES 

Then the note mentioned that the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, with its Chairman, Murat Kamalov, held the meeting. Dimovska, the UNDP representative gave a welcoming speech. Dimovska emphasized there that the UNDP wishes to increase the ambition of the joint engagement.

According to Dimovska, that joint engagement has the objective to support the implementation of a UN resolution. That resolution concerns the Aral Sea region-Zone of Ecological Innovation and Technology, which has the goal of ensuring sustainable development in the region.

Dimovska then thanked the Government of Karakpalkastan, the Government of Uzbekistan, and the Government of Japan, for their support. The delegation participated in an event dedicated to the International Volunteer Day, even though it is celebrated on 5 December.

The note then remarked that 2081 volunteers received training within the UNDP projects framework, in 11 Districts of Karakalpakstan. Then Dimovska mentioned that those volunteers continue their activities due to the financial support from Japan. Among the duties of the volunteers, first to raise awareness among the population, in particular, to promote a healthy lifestyle.

Volunteers of the Joint Program for the International Volunteer Day event
Volunteers of the Joint Program for the International Volunteer Day event

Then the note mentioned that many volunteers were active, and helped in the illnesses prevention efforts, including COVID-19. The volunteers continued the phone consults, to ask about the condition of the other villagers. More than 100 volunteers were able to participate in the event at the Theater of a Young Spectator.

CHIMBAY DISTRICT- PILOT COMMUNITIES

According to the note, the Karakalpakstan Ministry of Health provided support to the event. The most active volunteers received gifts from the members of the delegation, under five nominations. Then the note remarked that after the ceremony, the delegation members visited Chimbay, district, to the pilot communities of the Program.

At the beginning of 2021, the Program announced a call for innovative projects, and ideas. The head of the Ramazan Sarsenbaev private enterprise applied, and it was also among the proposals for co-financing. The proposal had a solution for farmers for vegetables and fruits long-term storage.

UNDP Representative, Matilda Dimovska, the Japanese Ambassador, and the UNFPA Representative with other members of the delegation
UNDP Representative, Matilda Dimovska, the Japanese Ambassador, and the UNFPA Representative with other members of the delegation

Refrigeration was built in the district to support the idea and ensure food security in the region. According to the note, that room can store up to 100 tons of fruits and vegetables, its staff received training, to operate the equipment.

The delegation launched the refrigeration room, and because of it, 112k residents of the district have access to fresh products all the year. The districts of Bozatau and Karauzyak also received similar projects from the Program.

REHABILITATION OF THE WATER TREATMENT FACILITY

Then the note mentioned another situation in the Koshkar zhykkan community, in the Mayzhap village. 550 people lived there, and the water treatment facility of the village was deteriorating, the village only had one old well. The residents needed to pump water from the ground and it didn’t meet the standards of sanitation and hygiene, according to the note.

The community mobilization workshop gave a voice to the problem and was organized to identify the needs of the residents. The workshop also wanted to discuss development plans. The residents and the administration of the district were able to initiate a large-scale work to activate a water project, thanks to the support of the Program.

The project had extraordinary results, because of it, the water treatment facility was rehabilitated, and also they installed water desalination equipment with a capacity of 8 m3/hour. Other results of the project were that it carried out around 4990 meters of a water supply network and that 68 houses were able to receive clean water to drink.

Another important water supply network carried out in were in Zhanamakan of the rural gathering of citizens. Other in Bakhytli, and the mahalla gathering of citizens Guzhimli of the district of Chimbay. According to the note, these water supply networks provided around 650 residents with clean drinking water.

WOMEN’S HEALTH IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT ISSUE

They also remarked on their actions to take care of women’s health, because the note stated that there was an average of 1660 cases of cervical cancer. Then it is added that more than 800 women die every year.

The UNDP then mentioned that this type of cancer is the second most common one in Uzbekistan. Breast Cancer is the most common type of cancer in the country. The Joint Program provided the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan, testing equipment, test systems, and consumables. These resources were to detect human papillomavirus, in its early phases.

The Program is in the testing phase on 10 pilot districts of the Republic of Karakalpakstan. Those are Kungrad, Chimbay, Bozatau, Muynak, Karauzyak, Shumanay, Khodjeyli, Kegeyli, Kanlykol, and Nukus. According to the note, the program tested 36% of women, 5% defined as HPV positive, and oncologists received 1% of the women.

During the meeting, the members of the Mission received the results of the project. From the 50 women that were treated,  the oncology center in Tashkent received two of them. Then the note mentioned that more than 34,000 women received anti-anemia pills.

FINAL VISIT AND BACKGROUND OF THE PROGRAM

The UNDP and UNFPA representatives with the Japanese Ambassador also visited the Medical Institute of Karakalpakstan. This visit had the objective of discussing the results and potential of joint activities.

The Japanese Government launched the program in 2019. It has two main objectives, the first one is to improve the quality of medical care, the second one is to launch business initiatives to create sources of income and jobs.

Dimovska then expressed her hope for the visit to serve as a standing point to strengthen the collaboration.

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