DUSHANBE, June 26, 2012, Asia-Plus – On Tuesday June 26, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Quality Health Care Project celebrated the opening of the newly renovated Center for Directly Observed Treatment (DOT) of tuberculosis (TB) patients at Dushanbe City Health Center #1.
The U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe says the opening ceremony took place at the center and brought together representatives from USAID, the USAID Quality Health Care Project, the Tajik national TB program, the Dushanbe City Health Administration, and international donor partners.
The USAID Project sponsored renovations at the health center after a quality inspection found a high likelihood of cross-contamination of TB and multi-drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) patients. The renovations improved infection control conditions by expanding the center’s treatment and waiting rooms, thus ensuring better ventilation and a reduction of cross-contamination of patients and medical staff.
Dr. Aziz Mirzoyev, a TB doctor at the City Health Center says, “The renovations have significantly improved working conditions for me and my colleagues. Now, our patients have enough space while waiting to take their medication.” Dushanbe Health Center #1 and the USAID Quality Health Care Project have been working together since 2011 to improve the quality of TB detection and treatment.
TB and MDR-TB remain a serious public health threat in Tajikistan. The USAID Quality Health Care Project, in close cooperation with the Government of Tajikistan and the international donor community, is promoting international standards for TB care and evidence-based practices to reduce the spread of TB and MDR-TB in Tajikistan.
USAID’s Quality Health Care Project is one of the many assistance projects made possible by the American people. Since 1992, the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe has provided more than $984 million in programs that support Tajikistan’s democratic institutions, health care, education, and economic growth.
