The Asian Development Bank to provide $ 32 million to Tajikistan to improve health services in three regions of the country: Faizabad, Rasht and Shamsiddin Shokhin, reports the bank.

“The corresponding grant agreement was signed on December 31, 2018 by the Minister of Finance of Tajikistan Faiziddin Kahhorzoda and the acting director of ADB in Tajikistan Raza Farrukh,” reports the message.

Health care in Tajikistan has improved over the past decades, but it still lags behind global and regional averages of maternal and child health. The country’s infant mortality rates are 20 neonatal and 37 infant deaths per 1000 live births compared to the target for the Sustainable Development Goals of 12 neonatal and 25 infant deaths per 1000 live births. The maternal mortality rate in Tajikistan is higher than in other countries of Central Asia.

The project to improve maternal and child health will help to solve the main problems of the health sector in Tajikistan, such as inadequate funding, outdated infrastructure, and a shortage of qualified medical personnel, especially in rural areas. It is expected that the project will modernize the infrastructure and equipment in central district hospitals and rural health centers, raise awareness and behavior regarding health issues among the population.

The project will also support the country's efforts to create a national system for managing equipment. The total cost of the project is $ 35.2 million, while the Government of Tajikistan provides 3.2 million. The project is expected to be completed in 2025.

“The Qazaq Times”