DUSHANBE, June 9, 2016, Asia-Plus – On Wednesday June 8, Mr. Kamada Takashi, Charge D’Affaires of Japan’s Embassy in Dushanbe, Mr. Navrouz Jaffarov, Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection of Tajikistan, and Ms. Lucia Elmi, UNICEF Resident Representative in Tajikistan, attended the handover ceremony to mark the donation of the first phase procured vaccines to the Republican Family Medicine Centre in Dushanbe under the UNICEF “Project for Prevention and Management of Childhood Illnesses in Tajikistan.”
According to Japan’s Embassy, a total amount of JPY633, 000,000 (equivalent to US$ 5,349,182) was allocated by the Government of Japan for this project to ensure sustainability of immunization system of vaccine-preventable diseases in Tajikistan.
Japan has long been a partner in implementing health related projects in Tajikistan. This renewed joint collaboration between the Government of Japan, UNICEF, and the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Tajikistan (MoHSP) aims to stabilize and accelerate the gains and progress already made in infant and child mortality and morbidity reduction in Tajikistan. The project’s specific objectives are to ensure availability of quality vaccines and medicines at primary health care facilities and to strengthen the national Integrated Management of Child Illnesses (IMCI) Program and Expanded Program for Immunization (EPI).
Under this project, UNICEF procured the first phase of the vaccines (MR (measles and rubella) and Hepatitis B), cold chain equipment (Cold room), and IMCI supplies (oral rehydration solution (ORS) and zinc for diarrhea management), which has been handed over to the Republican Family Medicine Centre. The number of beneficiaries of the first phase of the project is estimated as follows: estimated number of beneficiaries from diarrheal management with the procured ORS and Zinc for 1 year (459,138 children); estimated number of beneficiaries from vaccination with the procured MR vaccines for 6.5 months (257,250 children below 1 and aged 6); and estimated number of beneficiaries from vaccination with the procured Hep B vaccines for 6 months (131,000 children below 1).
During the ceremony, Mr. Kamada Takashi noted the great progress made toward child illnesses’ management in Tajikistan with decreased newborn and child morbidity and mortality. He also stressed that Japan is the second largest donor in the area of vaccine procurement in Tajikistan over the past 10 years and that the effective realization of the projects will further strengthen and expand cooperation between Japan and the Republic of Tajikistan on that matter.
Japan and Tajikistan have multifaceted cooperation. Since 1996, under the bilateral economic cooperation, Japan has provided grants with a total sum of 23.5 billion yen (approx. US$200 million) to Tajikistan. Currently Japan supports projects in diverse sectors, ranging from basic economic infrastructure projects to rural development projects.
