IMPROVE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE FACILITIES IN RURAL AREAS OF TAJIKISTAN

On September 4, 2014 Save the Children organized a ceremony for transferring equipment, supplies and furnitures (6 laptops, 6 bookshelf, 6 multifunctional printer, 60 chairs, and 6 computer desks) to the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Republic of Tajikistan and Republican Healthy Life Style Center (HLSC). These materials will be further distributed to the district HLSCs in six targeted districts (Tursunzoda, Shahrinav, Rudaki, Faizabad, Vose and Hamadoni). 

 “Together with Save the Children, we work to increase the capacities of health professionals at the local level and to improve the facilities of those centres. This equipment will support the work of our health workers at distric levels” – said Rustam Muminov, representative of the Republican Healthy Lifestyles Center. Save the Children’s long-standing partnership with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and with the Republican HLSC was highlighted by Save the Children Country Director: “Save the Children collaborates with the HLSC at national and district levels to strengthen their capacity to undertake health promotion at community levels and develop action plans in the future independently” said Thomas Wimber, “this basic equipment and furniture will contribute to improving quality of reporting system and data collection at district level”.

“We distributed those equipment through the Ministry in order to endorse its role as lead on the path for improving the Tajik health system” added Gulchehra Boboeva, responsible for the health program at Save the Children. 

Most of the people reached out by the HLSC are mothers and children. Save the Children’s support to the HLSCs at district level creates a friendly environment where mothers and their children can feel comfortable and enhancing their trust towards the health care system. Save the Children also supports the Tajik health care system improving the competences of health worker at national, district and local levels. “Our strength is that we are familiar with the broader socio-political context of Tajikistan and its health care system. We work with the communities for the development of health sector”, concluded Mr. Wimber.

The project “Enhancing primary health care services” funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by Save the Children and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), aims to improve primary health care services and health promotion activities at rural community areas, empowering communities to take more responsibility for their health.