DUSHANBE, March 12, Asia-Plus –
At a ceremony to mark International Women’s Day, held at City Health Center No. 1 in Dushanbe, the Ambassador of the United States of America and the Minister of Health of Tajikistan presented flowers and congratulations to ten women health system leaders, doctors, and nurses who have made valuable contributions to improving primary health care services in Tajikistan.
Press release issued by the US Embassy in Dushnabe said that the strengthening of primary health care (PHC) and the introduction of family medicine services are both priorities supported by the Ministry of Health’s Concept of Health Reform and the National Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. The strengthening of PHC is also a key objective of United States Government assistance to the health reform process in Tajikistan.
The women honored at the ceremony share the Ministry of Health and United States Government’s commitment to strengthening primary health care and family medicine services. Access to quality PHC services promotes disease prevention by encouraging early detection of diseases and reduces hospitalization rates through effective management of chronic conditions. Treatment of medical conditions at the PHC level also reduces the need for referrals to expensive, focused specialists, saving valuable health sector resources and reducing the cost of medical services for families.
Since 2005, the United States Government-funded ZdravPlus project has worked with health professionals at Dushanbe City Health Center No. 1 to build a Center of Excellence that demonstrates best practices in primary health care and serves as a working model of family medicine practice that has been replicated in Kоnibоdоm and can be replicated elsewhere in Tajikistan. The Center of Excellence integrates medical education activities including the training of family medicine trainers, retraining of PHC staff, and continuing medical education together with service delivery improvements, including implementation of clinical practice guidelines, quality improvement, rational drug use, and health promotion.
The Zdrav Plus project is funded through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is part of the United States overseas foreign assistance program funded by the American people. Since 1992 the American people through USAID have provided more than $270 million in assistance programs supporting economic growth, democratic institutions, health care and education systems of Tajikistan.
