Russian Ministry of Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy supports SMSmame implementation in regions 25.04.2012

Text4baby Russia (SMSmame in Russian) was launched nationwide on February 20, 2012, and enrollment in the health information service for new and expectant mothers continues to climb.

The Health and Development Foundation is happy to announce that the Department of Youth Policy and Public Relations of the Russian Ministry of Sport, Tourism, and Youth Policy has expressed its support for the project.

In the words of the department, Text4baby Russia is a socially important initiative aimed at solving key problems related to maintaining the reproductive health of the Russian population, pregnant women, new mothers, and infants, as well as improving the country’s demographic situation as a whole. The ministry department also stated its support for Text4baby Russia’s expansion in the Russian regions, and called for cooperation in that area from relevant public organizations, associations, and experts in the field of reproductive health.

The Health and Development Foundation is very grateful to the Department of Youth Policy for its support.

View the official letter from the Department of Youth Policy and Public Relations of the Russian Ministry of Sport, Tourism, and Youth Policy.

HDF staff speak at conference on anti-drug volunteer movement 22.04.2012

A seminar devoted to organizing the activity of the anti-drug volunteer movement working with youth in all types of educational institutions was held in Moscow on April 19 and 20.

This meeting, which brought together partners from different regions of Russia, was held at Baumann State Technical University by the Ministry of Education, with the support of the Federal Drug Control Service and the Ministry of Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy.

Health and Development Foundation staff spoke on April 20 about our organization’s comprehensive approach to the development of educational programs aimed at forming healthy lifestyles among youth, and on evaluating the effectiveness of such programs.

Business leaders discuss smoke-free workplaces at Moscow forum 19.04.2012

Health and Development Foundation staff attended "Smoke-Free Workplaces: Good for Business, Good for Health,” a forum for business leaders and government and public sector partners in Moscow today. The forum is part of an international initiative to promote improved public health and corporate social responsibility through the implementation of 100% smoke-free policies in all workplaces, and was organized by GBCHealth with support from the World Health Organization.

The main topics of the conference were international best practices on creating smoke-free workplace environments, the health benefits and positive impact on business profitability of these policies, and the importance of national legislation as a means to ensure universal protection for all citizens from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.

Regional specialists share knowledge on substance abuse prevention among youth, HDF takes part 11.04.2012

Health and Development Foundation staff participated in the VIII Interregional Conference on “Substance abuse: a youth social health issue. Comprehensive approaches to the prevention of substance abuse among adolescents,” which took place April 4-6 in Russia’s Leningrad Region. Attending the conference were psychologists and directors and specialists from institutions working with adolescents and young people in the Leningrad, Samara, and Kursk regions, as well as Ukraine. Foundation staff members spoke about our experience in implementing the youth health lifestyle program Everything That Concerns You in 11 Russian regions.

HDF presents SMSmame (Text4baby Russia) at Innovations in Medical Technology Conference 11.04.2012

The Innovations in Medical Technology Conference, organized by the Skolkovo Foundation and Open University Skolkovo, was held in Moscow on April 2-3.

The conference was focused on promoting education, scientific research, and entrepreneurship related to innovations in medicine. Participants included international entrepreneurs and investors in medicine and health care, and Russian start-ups.

SMSmame (Text4baby Russia) was chosen as one of the ten best new Russian projects in the field, and participated in the event’s “Start-up Parade”, in which promising new projects were presented.

Elena Dmitrieva, director of the Health and Development Foundation, presented SMSmame, a free service through which new and expectant mothers receive topical, expert health information by text messages to their mobile phones.

Support for the conference also came from Elsevier publishing company, which specializes in science and health materials, and the New York group of investors Life Sciences Angel Network (LSAN).