Since the beginning of the pandemic two years ago, the United States – through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided a total of US$14 million in COVID-19 assistance to Tajikistan, says press release issued by the US Embassy in Dushanbe on June 13.
The latest US$1.5 million will continue to support the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population of Tajikistan’s efforts to coordinate Tajikistan’s COVID-19 vaccine promotion, readiness, delivery, and effectiveness, and strengthen the capacity of healthcare workers.
“Vaccination is the most important thing we can do to protect ourselves, our families, friends, and colleagues. The greater the number of Tajiks vaccinated, the less chance the virus will be able to spread to Tajikistan and develop into new variants which would then lead to another unfortunate outbreak of the disease,” noted Peter Riley, USAID Mission Director for Tajikistan.
This assistance comes from the American Rescue Plan, President Biden’s recovery package designed to facilitate the United States’ recovery from the devastating health and economic effects of the pandemic. The COVID-19 support in Tajikistan is being used to strengthen the healthcare system; procure urgent supplies for infection-prevention and control, including programs to expand COVID-19 testing; keep health workers safe with protective equipment; increase oxygen supply; better equip laboratories; improve disease surveillance and clinical management; and fight misinformation.
These efforts build on decades of life-saving work and U.S. leadership in tackling global health crises. Over the past 60 years, USAID has saved millions of lives from diseases such as Ebola, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and now COVID-19.
Diseases know no borders. The United States is committed to partnering with Tajikistan to end the COVID-19 pandemic, mitigate its devastating social and economic impacts, and position the country to be better prepared for future outbreaks.
USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results.
