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Current activities include:

• expert committee on disaster management in the Ministry of Health;
• working groups on assessment and planning, policy and procedures, pharmaceutical policy during disasters;
• review and inclusion of standard operating procedures in the National Health crisis management plan;
• development of an integrated training programme for disaster management;
• hospital vulnerability studies.

Every year, Tajikistan experiences hundreds of natural disasters and emergencies, affecting hundreds or thousands of people. These include earthquakes, debris flows, avalanches, landslides and mudslides, floods, droughts and epidemics.

The experience of WHO and other international agencies shows that Tajikistan’s health sector is largely unprepared to cope effectively with emergencies, as it lacks not only resources but also a regulatory framework, technical expertise and operational skills, infrastructure and modern tools at nearly all levels. As a result, even comparatively minor emergencies can force the national health care system to rely on external assistance.

Fostering emergency preparedness

Developing the health sector’s capacity to address disease outbreaks or releases of hazardous substances, regardless of their causes, has become a critical element of work to improve disaster preparedness and response. Fostering preparedness in the health sector is a key objective of WHO’s technical cooperation with Tajikistan.

Strengthening capacity for disaster preparedness and response in the Ministry of Health, Tajikistan

A project funded by the European Union (EU) started in April 2007. It forms part of the programme on disaster preparedness, prevention and response, called DIPECHO, within the EU’s humanitarian aid programme (ECHO).

WHO in Tajikistan is currently implementing another phase of a project entitled: “Strengthening disaster preparedness, prevention and response activities at all levels of the health system in the Republic of Tajikistan”, funded by ECHO. It aims to strengthen the organizational and policy framework within the Ministry for preparedness, assessment, management and response to emergencies and catastrophes. Capacity building and technical assistance will provide for policy development and vulnerability assessment to enable state health facilities and regional institutional authorities to reduce the negative health and economic effects of natural disasters. Policy and standard procedures for effective disaster preparation and response will be developed and strengthened. Disaster management and response training programmes will be instituted through collaborative action with the Ministry.