KULOB, June 20, 2008, Asia-Plus — Trainings on preventing spread of TB and brucellosis have been launched in 44 villages of Khatlon’s Kulob district. The trainings are being conducted within the frame work of the project supported by the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR).
Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Ms. Halima Boboyeva, a chief specialist with the JFPR project implementation unit, said that the trainings had been initiated by the union of health societies that had been set up in the Kulob district during the implementation of the first stage of the project.
Referring to the head physician of the central district hospital in Kulob, she noted that 191 new cases of tuberculosis have been reported in the district since the beginning of this year. “Cases of brucellosis are also not rare here,” Boboyeva said.
“Therefore, we have launched the mentioned trainings on the mentioned subjects here in cooperation with the HOPE Project, which specializes in TB prevention measures,” Boboyeva said, noting that the population supported initiative of health societies’ union to discuss the TB and brucellosis problems.
Brucellosis is a disease that is spread to humans from infected animals, either through direct contact or by consuming their milk or cheese. The illness in humans is debilitating and requires costly treatment for several months. In the Khatlon province, where livestock breeding is a major component of livelihoods among rural communities, international organizations are helping local authorities, farmers and vets to control and prevent brucellosis.
The Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction (JFPR) is an untied grant facility established by the Japanese Government and ADB in May 2000. From an initial contribution of $90 million, the Fund now stands at well over $360 million, of which $224 million has been committed. JFPR assists ADB clients to provide direct relief to the poorest and most vulnerable segments of society while building up their capacities for self-help and income generation.
The JFPR initiates and supports innovative programs that have high potential for improving the affected countries” situations, provides relatively rapid, demonstrable benefits through initiatives that have positive prospects of developing into sustainable activities over the long term and assists programs designed and implemented by local populations and civil society
