DUSHANBE, February 28, Asia-Plus  -- Health Minister Nusratullo Salimov yesterday met with UNICEF’s Deputy Representative in Tajikistan Ruth Leano to discuss further cooperation between Tajikistan and UNICEF, according to the UNICEF Dushanbe Office.    

In the course of the talks, the two considered issues related to UNICEF’s responding to effects of the extreme winter weather.  

            In the meantime, Health Minister Nusratullo Salimov noted recently that the Ministry of Health (MoH) in January-February received humanitarian aid worth $534,000, including $47,000 worth of assistance provided by UNICEF.  The UNICEF assistance included 25 generators, 2,000 blankets, 2,800 blanket covers, as well as sop bars and medicine and medical equipment.

            The minister added that according to the preliminary data, damage caused to the health sector amounted to 4.5 million somonis ($1.3 million).  According to him, more than 9 million somonis are needed to rehabilitate the sector.   

UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.  The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS.  UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.