On 13th December, during a training course at JOICFP, Enkhmaa Ulziikhutag, Officer in charge of RH, Health Promotion Department, National Center for Health Development, Mongolia, was interviewed for JOICFP eNews.

Highlights of the interview follow.

Reproductive health problems in Mongolia include STIs, which have been increasing over the last years. The country is very big and many people are nomadic, so distributing contraceptives is difficult, even though supplies are sufficient.

In Mongolia, the rate of HIV/AIDS is increasing, but there is no screening available in rural areas. Furthermore, although knowledge and awareness of STIs and HIV/AIDS is high, attitudes and behavior allow the infection to spread. Therefore, we are planning more behavior change communication (BCC) interventions.

Ulziikhutag (center) with JOICFP staff during BCC training

We have plenty of information, education and communication (IEC) materials, but getting them to people in such a large country is a big job. We distribute IEC materials to doctors at health centers on how to use contraceptives, and we train doctors to distribute them, especially to reach vulnerable groups.

Over the last five years, maternal and infant mortality rates (MMR/IMR) have been decreasing, but they are still very high compared to many other countries. For the first half of 2006, MMR was 93 per 100,000 live births, and IMR 65 per 1,000 live births.

At the project site, even in an urban environment,
many people still live in traditional felt tents
with limited utilities

The successes of the male involvement project, which started in two suburban districts (Bayanzurkh and Songinokhairkhan districts) in 2004 with JOICFP's assistance, can be seen in that more men are accompanying their wives to the health center for ante-natal care. This was one of the objectives of the project.

In the project areas, we are also working with local government agencies in charge of social and welfare related issues such as registering migrants in order to reach more men by jointly organizing training sessions for the community men with male peer educators who deliver RH information.