For Immediate Release
Press Release
Dushanbe, April 18, 2023 – Today, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched a five-year, $20 million End Tuberculosis (TB) Tajikistan Activity, implemented by Family Health International (FHI 360). Dr. Zulfiya Abdusamadzoda, Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection of Population of the Republic of Tajikistan presided over the launch event, and delivered opening remarks along with Peter Riley, USAID Tajikistan Mission Director, and Dr. Amy Weissman, FHI 360 Deputy Regional Director for the Asia-Pacific Regional Office.
USAID Tajikistan Mission Director Riley highlighted the importance of USAID’s assistance to Tajikistan in TB response and noted, “We reaffirm our commitment to identify every person with TB, cure those in need of treatment, and prevent the spread of the disease in Tajikistan.” Dr. Sevim Ahmedov, USAID Washington Senior TB and HIV Advisor stated, “With the new activity in place USAID will expand its support to the new treatment regimens to cure drug-resistant tuberculosis and will also provide technical support and assist with the strengthening of the TB diagnostic and laboratory system in Tajikistan.”
Tajikistan is among the 30 high multidrug-resistant tuberculosis burden countries in the world, according to the World Health Organization. USAID leads the U.S. Government’s efforts to address TB in Tajikistan over the last 30 years. The USAID-funded End Tuberculosis Tajikistan Activity is the next generation of USAID’s support in helping Tajikistan fight TB. It will operate at the national level bringing a community-centered care approach to improve case detection and notification for all forms of TB, ensure more patients are cured and prevent further spread of infection.
