Handover of the equipment within the project of “Survival and early child development”

July 3^rd, Rudaki. The United Nations Children's Fund in the Republic of Tajikistan (UNICEF), with the financial assistance from the Government of the Russian Federation, handed over the modern medical equipment and medicines worth $ 700,000 to the Central District Hospital of Rudaki.

The ceremonial handing over of medical equipment took place within the framework of the UNICEF grant program for the project “Survival and early child development”. The financing and procurement of critical equipment and technical support are a significant contribution of Russian Federation to reducing child mortality in Tajikistan.

It should be noted, that the Central District Hospital of Rudaki is one of the 12 project pilot districts of the republic. The “Survival and early child development” project began in 2016 aiming to expand the access of mothers, newborns and young children to basic health care in twelve districts of the country, such as Penjikent, Devashtich, Asht, Zafarabad, Gornaya Mastcha, Mastcha, Darvaz, Murghab , Ishkashim, Rudaki, Rasht and Lyakhsh and reducing child mortality in Tajikistan.

The Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan, Mr. Odinazoda Aziz Abdusattor, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Tajikistan Igor Semenovich Lyakin-Frolov and the Representative of the United Nations Children's Fund in the Republic of Tajikistan Mr. Luciano Calestini were participating in the official handover ceremony.

“I want to thank everyone for the opportunity to take part in this ceremony. Proceeding from the friendly and strategic nature of Russian-Tajik relations, our country continues to systematically assist with Tajikistan in achieving its goals in the field of socio-economic nature. This project and a number of other projects are evidence of the sincere interest of our country in ensuring the well-being and prosperity of the people of Tajikistan” said the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Republic of Tajikistan Igor Semenovich Lyakin-Frolov.

“The health and well-being of children and mothers are the most important investments a country can make, and this is also an important priority for UNICEF in Tajikistan. We remain faithful in our efforts to support the Government of Tajikistan in its efforts to reduce child mortality and morbidity in the country, and we thank the Government of the Russian Federation for its steady support over the years, including the supply of this important equipment that will help young citizens of Tajikistan get the best start in of life” said the representative of the UN Children's Fund in the RT, Mr. Luciano Calestini.

The United Nations Children's Fund in Tajikistan (UNICEF), together with its partners, supports the Government of Tajikistan in improving child survival by carefully identifying critical weaknesses in the health care system, developed on the basis of evidence, and in improving of access and demand for maternal and child health institutions and the provision of technical expertise to health workers to reduce child mortality.