Event highlights
13 May 2024
Health on the menu – women’s breakfast in Tajikistan focuses on health and gender equality
To empower women in Tajikistan to overcome the barriers to living a healthy lifestyle posed by gender inequalities, the WHO Country Office organized an informal breakfast dedicated to the health and well-being of working women.
The event brought together 30 women from different ages and walks of life to share their experiences and ideas, and to foster open dialogue on daily issues that directly impact their health and well-being. The women, including lawyers, hairdressers, fitness instructors and teachers, represented many different professions. They discussed how to balance their work and personal lives, ensure sufficient physical activity and good nutrition, and take good care of their mental health.
Gender inequality and discrimination hit women's health and well-being hard in Tajikistan. For example, 37% of women are overweight or obese. Many women do not have sufficient decision-making power over their health care.
Furthermore, a lack of access to quality and basic maternal health care, as well as reliable information and awareness, sometimes leads to higher rates of complications and even death during childbirth.
Gender-based violence is also a great challenge in Tajikistan: 31% of women report that they have experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence committed by their current or most recent partner.
The women’s breakfast prompted vibrant discussions on difficult and personal experiences and perspectives, but turned into a celebratory event as well – at one point, the women were even dancing together to the lively beat of traditional Tajik music!
“We should have these types of events more often,” said one participant. “They provide us with a platform to discuss our health and well-being and to empower each other to improve our situation as women in Tajikistan.”
By nurturing a supportive community and sparking conversations that resonate on both professional and personal levels, this initiative aimed to help women live healthier lifestyles and support their families and communities to do the same.
WHO promotes gender equality and endeavours to improve women’s health by overcoming barriers rooted in sociocultural factors. This includes ensuring that health systems are able to address the health-care needs of women and girls by giving them have access to quality services, education and information, and by preventing and responding to cases of gender-based violence.
Event notice
27 April 2024
Gender inequality and discrimination faced by women and girls puts their health and well-being at risk. Gender inequality also negatively affects women's economic growth and societal progress.
In Tajikistan, women face many challenges rooted in sociocultural factors. As a result, they can struggle to access quality, culturally appropriate health-care and to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
To support Tajik women’s health and well-being and to promote gender equality, the WHO Country Office in Tajikistan is organizing an event dedicated to the health of working women. The breakfast event will foster dialogue on the maintenance of good physical and mental health, nutrition, and women’s health-seeking behaviour.
By nurturing a supportive community and sparking conversations that resonate on both professional and personal levels, this initiative aims to support women in Tajikistan to live healthier, happier lives – and to support their families and communities to do the same.
This event speaks to the theme of this year's World Health Day: My health, my right.