KOICA and UNOPS deliver specialized medical beds to 13 hospitals to serve 2 million people in Tajikistan

The beds are expected to serve an area with a population of two million people, and approximately 6,700 patients will use them annually. This support will benefit patients that require hospital treatment, including due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as well as long-term therapy.

This project, initiated by KOICA and implemented by UNOPS, is in direct support of the strengthening of the priority health system, in line with the COVID-19 response plan of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population (MOHSPP) and wider UN interventions in Tajikistan.

Underlining the importance of this project, Ms. Freya von Groote, UNOPS’ Director of the Austria Multi-Country Office and Representative to Tajikistan said:

“UNOPS is honoured to continue supporting the Government of Tajikistan with enhancing the country’s healthcare systems, including to respond to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We were able to provide this support based on our extensive experience on cost efficient procurement, global network of suppliers and local presence in Tajikistan.”

Speaking about the deliveries, Dr. Gafur Muhsinzoda, First Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan said:

“At the end of December 2020, KOICA generously provided the Government of Tajikistan with funds to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In close partnership with UNOPS, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population was able to ensure timely, efficient and transparent procurement of mechanical hospital beds for the COVID-19 patients in over 13 hospitals, benefiting their rest and recovery.”

Reflecting on the accomplishment, Mr. Minhyeon Song, Vice President of KOICA said:

"To fulfill the objectives of Korean Government's ‘ODA Korea: Building TRUST’ strategy’, KOICA has been implementing the Comprehensive Rapid Response Program in multiple countries. KOICA expects that the beds, which UNOPS successfully procured and delivered, will assist the Government of Tajikistan in its urgent response to the Pandemic and the establishment of sustainable health service.”

Notes to the Editors:

Background

In December 2020, amidst one of the worst global health crises ever experienced, UNOPS and the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population (MoHSPP) signed an agreement for an amount of US$400,000 to aid in the public health response to the crisis and support the Government in procuring and delivering 225 mechanical beds to 13 key hospitals country-wide, benefiting approximately 2 million people in Tajikistan residing in the catchment areas of the hospitals. This will ensure that patients requiring (non-ICU) hospital care will receive the much-needed support to recover.

Funding from KOICA enabled UNOPS to address the needs in the hospitals selected by MoHSPP by providing project management and procurement services, coordinating delivery, distribution and technical support (assembly, instructions, two-year warranty).

About UNOPS

UNOPS’ mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development. We help governments, the United Nations and other partners to manage projects, and deliver sustainable infrastructure and procurement in an efficient way. Read more: www.unops.org

About the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population (MoHSPP)

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Republic of Tajikistan is the central executive body of the Republic of Tajikistan responsible for the development and implementation of a unified state policy and regulation of legal norms in the health and social protection sector of the population. Read more: http://moh.tj/

About KOICA

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) is a leading development cooperation agency to achieve global social values. KOICA's mandate is to contribute to the advancement of international cooperation through various projects that build friendly and collaborative relationships and mutual exchanges between Korea and partner countries and support the economic and social development in partner countries.  Read more: www.koica.go.kr