QURGHON TEPPA, February 27, 2011, Asia-Plus — The U.S. Department of State, through Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere) has delivered more than 6 million U.S. dollars worth of donated medical supplies to hospitals and health facilities in Khatlon province.
U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan, Mr. Kenneth Gross, and Deputy Minister of Health, Mr. Sohibnazar Rahmonov, participated in a handover ceremony of humanitarian aid that took place in Qurghon Teppa, the capital of Khatlon province on February 26.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Sohibnazar Rahmonov noted that the cargo with a total worth of more than US$21 million of medicines had been delivered to Tajikistan and part of it had been sent to Khatlon province.
Ambassador Gross, for his part, noted that the shipment included flu medicines worth US$17 million as well as antibiotics and anticoagulants for more than US$3 million. U.S. diplomat noted that medicines would be distributed to hospitals in Dushanbe and Khatlon province.
According to him, the private U.S. pharmaceutical companies and U.S. branches of international pharmaceutical companies such as GlaxoSmithKline, Abbott, Lundbeck, Bristol Meyers Squibb and Allergan have contributed to this humanitarian assistance effort with their generous donations and the U.S. Department of State has paid for the cargo shipment.
Project HOPE agreed with Tajik Ministry of Health well in advance which items will be sent and which hospitals will receive the items.
Founded in 1958, Project HOPE has a long history of working with doctors and pharmaceutical companies to implement humanitarian aid programs, health education and health reform in developing countries. Project HOPE has now been active in Tajikistan for nine years.
