TEHRAN – The Ministry of Health plans to improve nutritional literacy among people in rural areas to address nutritional health concerns in these areas.
Mehul News Agency reports that despite the high quality of food in rural areas, there is a lack of knowledge about nutrition, which affects the choice of food consumed and has a major impact on the population. reported the statement of Mr. Ahmad Esmailzadeh.
All forms of malnutrition, including malnutrition (wasting, stunting, and underweight), vitamin and mineral deficiencies, overweight, and obesity, are prevalent among rural children because some parents are ignorant about their children’s nutrition. Officials pointed out that this is occurring.
He added that the prevalence of diabetes, high blood fats and high blood pressure in the village was the second reason for the need for nutrition experts.
The official further said that around 350 nutrition experts are expected to start working in rural areas by the end of this year (March 2025) in Iran.
The nutrition experts will promote nutrition literacy and, as a result, the health of the village people, the official added.
Increase people’s knowledge and awareness and train them to take care of themselves and prevent obesity and disease by eating healthy food, getting enough calories and getting 30 minutes of exercise a day. It’s essential.
Rural Family Medicine Program
According to officials from the medical insurance organization, about 7,000 doctors in rural areas are participating in the implementation of the family medicine program.
The rural family medicine program began in 2005. At the time, it targeted villages and cities with a population of less than 20,000 to better concentrate treatment referrals and provide more convenient access to health services, ISNA quoted Masoud Mashaek as saying .
Mashaekhi stressed that more than 20 million Iranians are covered by rural family physician programs, which provide medical, dental, psychiatric, midwifery, nutritional, laboratory, pharmaceutical, and medical imaging services. said.
He said more than 7,000 doctors, 5,662 midwives, 1,893 dentists and dental hygienists are providing services in 4,287 medical centres.
In the current Iranian Year, which began on March 20, the program has been expanded to also include mental health and nutrition professionals to better meet the needs of rural families.
The family medicine program was piloted in two provinces, Fars and Mazandaran, in 2005, targeting approximately 25 million people living in rural areas.
Regular examinations and monitoring of people’s health, easy and 24/7 access to basic services and primary care, and frequent doctor visits are the hallmarks of a family doctor.
Under the Family Physician Program, rural areas are served by doctors and midwives, with a doctor for every 3,300 villagers and a midwife for every 5,200 villagers.
The implementation of the urban family medicine program began in June 2012 in the provinces of Fars and Mazandaran. Reducing out-of-pocket costs is a key effect and benefit of urban family medicine programs.
Family physician programs have made treatment referrals more focused and improved interactions between physicians and health care providers.
In September 2023, former Minister of Health Baharam Einolahi stated that the family medicine program is the Ministry of Health’s most important priority for the next two years.
“This program is a fundamental measure that, if properly developed, will solve many problems in the health system,” Einolahi said, IRNA reported.
MT/MG