Remarks by Dr. Pratibha Mehta, UNDP Resident Representative

Date/time: 12 June 2020 at 10 a.m.

Venue: Ministry of Health and Social Protection

Dear Ms. Saida Umarzoda, First Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan,

Distinguished colleagues and guests,

We are all here this morning, during those challenging and exceptional times, because we are determined to put in place the necessary measures to prevent life loss.

Our cause is of utmost importance today, when the world is experiencing one of the most destructive and profound structural, social and economic shocks in recent history in the wake of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which had also demonstrated the importance of open and transparent public communication.

At this moment of utter emergency, accurate data and information are critical to better understand trends of COVID19 in the country and to help reduce risks. It is important to put in place practical mechanisms to encourage open and pro-active public health communication to allow the public to adopt protective behaviors, facilitate heightened disease surveillance, reduce confusion and allow better use of resources, all of which are necessary for an effective response.

To serve this purpose, we supported the Ministry of Health and Social Protection to establish an Emergency Communication Platform at National level (in two locations in Dushanbe city, and in the Sughd, Khatlon, and GBAO regions.) to improve information management and coordination of response measures at all levels.

The platform is part of the “COVID-19 Country Preparedness and Response Plan” and is designed to optimize information exchange between regions and the capital, improve coordination between different institutional partners, enhance public communication and facilitate knowledge exchange with other countries.

It is my pleasure today to also handover the ICT equipment worth more than US$ 75,000 to the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Tajikistan.

I’m pleased to note, that the platform and equipment have been already successfully tested to ensure real time COVID-19 data collection, monitoring and communication in a transparent, and timely manner. It’s a pleasure to note, that it has also provided an opportunity for the Ministry to disseminate knowledge from leading experts of the country to the regions. 

I believe, the transfer of these IT equipment to Ministry of Health and Social Protection will further boost the capacities of its staff to mitigate impacts of the pandemic, and ensure that response actions are comprehensive as well as equitable and inclusive, so that no one is left out and Tajikistan can continue to make progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. 

I would like to thank the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan, for the continuous cooperation in strengthening the healthcare system in the country to overcome the pandemic.

In conclusion, I would like to reconfirm our commitment to working with the Government and its partners to combat the spread of the coronavirus and support the most affected communities

Thank you very much.