DUSHANBE, July 19, 2011, Asia-Plus – On July 18, Mr. Jeffrey Lehrer, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Country Director, together with Ms. Mavzuna Ghulomova, Deputy Director of the Republican Family Medicine Center, and Ms. Bunafsha Azimova, Head of Vahdat District Health Administration, presented diplomas to the 11 graduates of the first six-month family medicine course offered at the Family Medicine Training Center based in the Vahdat City Health Center, the U.S> Embassy in Dushanbe said.
These graduates will now return to their home communities to provide improved care to their patients.
During the graduation ceremony, Jeffrey Lehrer noted, “Family medicine is the most convenient and cost-effective model for primary health care. Well-trained family doctors can solve most health-related problems for all family members. Whether a child needs a vaccination, a pregnant woman needs a routine check-up, or a family member needs advice on what to do for a headache or the flu, a qualified family doctor can provide the advice and help families need.”
Through support from the Ministry of Health and the USAID Quality Health Care Project, the Family Medicine Training Center in Vahdat opened in January 2011. The center combines training with medical practice to provide family medicine and increased access to evidence-based, high-quality medical services. Strengthening primary health care and family medicine in Tajikistan is a priority for both the Ministry of Health and USAID to ensure lower-cost, effective, and accessible medical care for all people.
The USAID Quality Health Care Project is a five-year program to improve the health status of Central Asians by incorporating modern quality improvement techniques and evidence-based, international standards into ongoing reforms of health systems. In Tajikistan, the USAID Quality Health Care Project will support the implementation of the National Health Sector Strategy and will work with local and international partners to build a foundation for strengthening health care and improving quality.
The USAID Quality Health Care Project is one of the many assistance projects made possible by the American people through the United States Agency for International Development. Since 1992, the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe has provided approximately $984 million in programs that support Tajikistan’s democratic institutions, health care, education, and economic growth.
