DUSHANBE, October 31, 2008, Asia-Plus — On Friday October 31, U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Necia Quast, Deputy Minister of Health Azamjon Mirzoyev, and Sayolim Talbov, the head doctor at Dushanbe”s Municipal Clinical Infectious Hospital met at the hospital to receive medicines valued at $1,190,460 and donated by private pharmaceutical companies. Project HOPE facilitated delivery.
According to the US Embassy in Dushanbe, the medicines were on board an October 30 charter flight with $13,294,628 of donated medical products for hospitals in Tajikistan. This humanitarian aid is allotted to the people of Tajikistan to be used free of charge.
The October delivery was timed for distribution to help address current needs, ensure treatment throughout the winter, and prevent the spread of diseases in spring. The list includes “Pegintron,” used to treat hepatitis C, donated by the Shering company and valued at $4,761,840; the papilloma virus vaccine “Gardasil,” donated by Merck and valued at $2,762,176; the pneumococcal vaccine “Pneumovax 23,” donated by Merck and valued at $83,646; and, the typhoid vaccine “Typhim VI,” donated by Sanofi and valued at $491,975. The shipment also included the antibiotics “Augmentin,” “Zinacef,” and “Fortaz” donated by Glaxo; “Gemzar” oncology medicines donated by Eli Lilly, and other supplies donated by Wyeth and Hospira.
The delivery is the latest in a series of cooperative efforts between Project HOPE, private donors, the Government of Tajikistan, and the State Department. Project HOPE has for decades consulted with extensive contacts with pharmaceutical companies worldwide to identify donors. Tajikistan”s Ministry of Health advises Project HOPE about the medical supplies most needed by Tajik citizens and the receiving hospitals, well in advance of delivery. Project HOPE then coordinates the air cargo transport, paid for by the State Department. Representatives of receiving hospitals come to the airport to take their donated medical supplies directly from the plane to their hospitals.
Western pharmaceutical companies support Project HOPE because they know their donations will be given directly to the hospitals. They also trust Project HOPE”s monitoring programs to ensure the supplies are distributed to patients in need. Tajik medical institutions affirm that the donated medicines and supplies are of first quality and effective in treating the most prevailing and dangerous illnesses.
Since 2002 Project HOPE has donated $178,020,372.42 of medicines to medical institutions in Tajikistan.
