United States provides $310,000 worth of COVID-19 supplies to Tajikistan

DUSHANBE -- US medical assistance to Central Asia continues during the COVID-19 pandemic's second year.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently delivered $310,964 (3.5 million TJS) worth of laboratory equipment, reagents, and supplies to the Tajik Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MHSP), the US embassy in Dushanbe said in a statement Tuesday (February 2).

Tajik officials received the items in a Dushanbe ceremony January 27.

The equipment, such as items necessary for conducting polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, reagents for diagnosing COVID-19, laboratory plastic and personal protective equipment, will help laboratory staff fight the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

Ongoing US assistance

The latest donation is part of the CDC's continuing efforts to help Tajikistan battle the pandemic.

Through partner organisations, the CDC has trained 643 medical staff so far in Dushanbe and Khujand on how to control infections, helped the MHSP develop guidance documents on infection control, and helped evaluate 18 medical facilities in three cities. The facility assessment was done to identify obstacles hindering an effective COVID-19 response.

The CDC also trained 27 laboratory staffers to diagnose COVID-19 with the reverse transcription–PCR method.

The CDC and its partners will continue helping the Tajik government improve control of infections at medical facilities. The CDC is investing $1.6 million (18.2 million TJS) in the Tajik response to COVID-19.

The CDC has operated in Central Asia since 1995.