Six years ago, Dilafruze Hudoikulova relied on daily medication to manage constant stomach pain caused by a chronic ulcer. Over time, she transformed her health by adopting small, practical changes in her diet, physical activity, and overall approach to wellness, allowing her to reduce her dependence on medication.
Working at the Republican Center for Healthy Lifestyle Development under Tajikistan’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Dilafruze applied professional knowledge about nutrition, exercise, and prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) to her own life. By following evidence-based recommendations—such as reducing salt and sugar intake, eating more fruits and vegetables, and staying active—she achieved significant health improvements.
Her personal transformation extended to her family. Dilafruze’s mother, who previously followed unhealthy eating habits, developed hypertension and reduced mobility. Gradually adopting healthier practices under Dilafruze’s guidance, she improved her blood pressure, became more active, and now enjoys daily walks.
As a mother of two, Dilafruze focuses on providing nutritious meals at home. She limits daily salt intake, reads food labels carefully, and replaces sugary drinks and processed snacks with fruits and healthier options. However, she recognizes that systemic challenges, such as aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods to children, require broader interventions.
Dilafruze contributes to the Joint Programme “Transforming Food Systems for Better Nutrition,” funded by the UN Joint SDG Fund and implemented by FAO, UNICEF, WHO, and WFP, in partnership with the Government of Tajikistan. Through this program, she participates in research on food and beverage advertising targeting children, revealing the frequent promotion of sugary and processed foods on national TV channels.
WHO emphasizes that NCDs place a growing burden on families and the health system in Tajikistan. Evidence-based measures—like salt reduction, elimination of industrial trans fats, taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages, and restrictions on marketing unhealthy foods to children—can save thousands of lives. The joint UN program translates this evidence into action, helping stories like Dilafruze’s become more widespread.
The initiative promotes healthier diets through multiple approaches: WHO advances NCD prevention measures, UNICEF generates school- and community-level evidence to inform behavior change strategies, FAO supports food system transformation to improve access to nutritious foods, and WFP works with the Ministry of Education to integrate nutrition education into schools. These combined efforts empower families and communities to adopt sustainable, healthy practices.
For Dilafruze, the program is profoundly personal. She sees it as a way not only to improve her family’s health but also to influence the broader system, ensuring that healthier choices and improved nutrition become accessible and normalized across Tajikistan.
