On Thursday, April 27, the U.S. Ambassador Manuel Micaller participated in an event to celebrate the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) achievements in helping Tajikistan combat COVID-19 and introduce a new initiative to help the country better respond to any possible future pandemic, according to the US Embassy in Dushanbe.

Titled the Global Health Security Program (GHSP), this new program will assist Tajikistan to detect infectious disease threats early, respond rapidly and effectively to new outbreaks, and prevent those outbreaks that are avoidable.

Over the past two years of the COVID-19 project implementation by FHI 360, six clinical protocols, guidelines, and training curricula were developed. Additionally in coordination with other USAID projects, three oxygen supply systems were installed in the central city hospitals of Bokhtar, Konibodom and Panjakent.  To ensure these systems were well utilized, more than 500 healthcare and non-healthcare workers across the country were trained on topics related to diagnosis, treatment, post-COVID-19 rehabilitation, and maintenance of oxygen equipment.

In partnership with the Government of Tajikistan, the U.S. Government is deepening its work towards supporting resilient and sustainable systems for health and pandemic preparedness.  “The COVID-19 pandemic is a strong reminder of the effect that an emerging pathogen can have on people’s health, and on global economies.  In a new effort, the U.S. Government will strengthen prevention, detection, and response capacities of Tajikistan to minimize threats posed by any emerging infectious diseases,” Ambassador Micaller stated

The event reportedly covered important issues concerning Tajikistan’s health sector and the COVID-19 pandemic and ended with the presentation of a film highlighting USAID’s accomplishments in combating COVID-19 in Tajikistan.

USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and a lead actor driving development results.