In our health education project in Tajikistan, our partners have seen how important health education and counselling are for women in their communities. Lessons cover mental health, diabetes prevention, healthy lifestyles, disease prevention, and family wellbeing.
Nasiba attended an International Women's Day celebration for the first time in her life. Her daughter worked hard to help her attend because she wanted her mother to have this special experience. During a discussion about the value of women, inner beauty, emotional wellbeing, and health, Nasiba became emotional and cried. She said it meant so much to be included and to hear that women are valuable and important. It was a powerful reminder of how much encouragement and affirmation many women need.
Zulfia is a woman with a hearing impairment. Like many other women facing similar challenges, she has had limited access to information throughout her life. She often needs basic health information explained carefully and clearly. Through our health lessons, she is learning new things and becoming more confident in understanding her health and managing her daily life.
We also met Malika, who underwent surgery for a herniated disc last year. She believed that her monthly periods had stopped because of the back operation. During our discussion, we discovered that her uterus had been removed during a separate medical procedure, but she had never fully understood this. Her story highlights how vital health education is and how many women still lack access to clear, understandable medical information.
The project is helping women gain knowledge, confidence, emotional support, and a better understanding of their health. Through health education and counselling, families and communities are becoming healthier, stronger, and better equipped to care for one another.
