Chief dentist of Dushanbe-based City Medical Center No 1 named after Karim Ahmadov, Anvar Khoujamurodov died at the age of 50 on November 14.  According to some sources, he died of coronavirus.  

Anvar Khoujamurodov is the third doctor who died in Tajikistan over the past 13 days.

Recall, a 54-year-old head of the department of adult surgery at the Sughd regional hospital, Sadriddin Ragimov, died on November 4, and a 60-year-old head of the department of andrology at the Sughd physiotherapy hospital, Ismatullo Ibodulloyev died the day before.   Both these deaths were pinned on pneumonia.  

Tajik users on social networks express distrust of official statistics regarding the extent of the spread of coronavirus.  Disbelief in official statistics appeared at a time when social networks reported the appearance of patients with suspected coronavirus and the facts of mysterious deaths.

Tajik political analyst Parviz Mullojanov believes that the Tajik government does not want to provide real statistics for only two reasons.  First of all, the authorities are concerned about panic among people, which could worsen both the social and economic situation.  Secondly, they assume that this will negatively impact the government’s reputation, as there is a possibility that people will blame them for worsening the situation.

Recall, the COVID –19 Tajikistan Situation Report # 109 June 2020, which was produced by the Office of UN Resident Coordinator and OCHA HAT in collaboration with international partners and covers the period of June 2-8, 2020, says that Tajikistan’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population (MoHSPP) reported that as of June 8, 1,701 healthcare workers (36% of total official number) have been infected with COVID‐19 since  the  beginning  of  the  outbreak, including  619  medical  doctors  and  548  nurses.

The main reason was reported to be the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), particularly at the beginning of the outbreak.