DUSHANBE
, May 17, Asia-Plus – An official opening of the project aimed at improvement of medical equipment was held at republican Clinical Hospital No 3 in
Dushanbe
today. Japanese Ambassador To Tajikistan Yuichi Kusumoto and Tajik Health Minister Nusratullo Faysulloyev inaugurated the ceremony.
This Grant Aid Project amounting to approximately US$4.4 million aims to ensure the qualified diagnostic and treatment services for the population and thereby improve the health state of the population. Under this project new medical equipment will be installed at Republican Clinical Hospital No 3 in
Dushanbe
.
According to information from the Japanese Embassy in Dushanbe, this grant assistance consists of two components: first, the hard component including the supply and installation of the medical diagnostic and surgical equipment of CT scanner, endoscopes, ultrasonic, X-ray, anesthetic facilities, and a variety of other equipment necessary for surgeries and intensive care units for 22 pediatric departments and 3 general departments; and second, the soft component providing for the provision of training on the efficient use of the equipment in the hospital and for the joint operation of the equipment in whole the medical departments of the hospital.
Besides, a ceremony of handover of much needed supplies such as vaccines, cold chain equipment and essential drugs, ensuring access to basic health services, will be held at the Central District Hospital of Vahdat today.
For the fifth year in a row
Japan
’s Government has planned a generous contribution for the further improvement of Mother and Child Health Services in
Tajikistan
. This contribution will respond to the dire need of mothers and children in remote areas of
Tajikistan
by providing much needed supplies.
Since 2004 EPI/IMCI drugs and equipment are procured through JICA with technical support of UNICEF under Multi-Bilateral Technical Cooperation. The recipient country draws up a five-year plan under this scheme.
Tajikistan
still experiences high child and maternal morbidity and mortality. The
UNICEF
State
of the World Children Report 2005 estimates that the under Five Child Mortality Rate in
Tajikistan
as 118 per 1,000 live births and the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) as 120 per 100,000 live births (World Bank, 2003). Direct causes of high morbidity and mortality amongst children are premature birth, birth trauma, congenital problems, neonatal infections, low birth weight, acute respiratory infections, and diarrhea diseases. Behind those clinical problems, the underlying causes are associated with improper family practice for child care and limited access to quality care services, combined with problems of malnutrition, poor hygiene practices and poor access to safe drinking water.
