DUSHANBE, December 1, 2008, Asia-Plus — Ten Tajik doctors learned specialized clinical approaches for practicing Family Medicine, as participants in an 11 month Train the Trainer course at the Dushanbe City Health Center #1, sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), press release issued by the US Embassy said.
On November 28, Carolyn Bryan, USAID Country Director for Tajikistan, together with Ministry of Health and Post Graduate Medical Institute (PGMI) representatives presented diplomas to the doctors at the Family Medicine Training Center (FMTC). The doctors are now certified to teach the Family Medicine approach.
“Family Medicine” integrates the biological, clinical and behavioral sciences to treat all ages, males and females, each organ system, and the most common diseases. Family medicine emphasizes preventive care and long-term relationships between patients and physicians.
The strengthening of primary health care and the introduction of family medicine services are priorities set forth in the Ministry of Health’s Concept of Health Reform and the National Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. Family medicine reduces the cost of medical services for families, increases the population’s access to medical care, and continuously improves the quality of medical services.
Since 2003 USAID”s ZdravPlus project has conducted Family Medicine Train the Trainer courses at the Post Graduate Medical Institute Family Medicine Training Center (PGMI FMTC) under the supervision of international consultants and thus introduced new teaching methods in Tajikistan. By completing the current course, Family Medicine trainers are now qualified to supervise six-month retraining courses at other established Family Medicine Inter-district Clinical Bases. These include Konibodom, Istaravshan (ZdravPlus pilots), Tursunzoda (Project Sino pilot) and Khorog (Aga Khan Foundation pilot).
The PGMI FMTC is a leader in the Family Medicine Training in Central Asia, thanks to an advanced education process which integrates both theoretical and practical learning. Through such collaboration family doctors learn evidence based principles and clinical practice guidelines. At the same time, the community benefits from the availability of quality medical services for adults, women, and children.
The USAID ZdravPlus project is one of the many assistance projects implemented in Tajikistan by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on behalf of the American people. Since 1993 the American people through USAID have provided about $300 million in assistance programs that support economic growth, democratic institutions, health care, and education systems of Tajikistan.
