Translated with AI
The Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan held a regular meeting of the department's board, during which issues of the state of oral rehydration points in medical institutions of the country, the prevalence of diarrheal diseases among children under five years of age, the level of care provided to cardiac patients, as well as providing the population with technical rehabilitation equipment and the implementation of the "Single Window" model were considered. This was reported by the press service of the ministry.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Population Jamoliddin Abdullozoda, First Deputy Minister Gafur Mukhsinzoda, Deputy Minister Zulfiya Abdusamatzoda, Rector of the Avicenna Tajik State Medical University Nuriddin Mukhiddin, Rector of the Khatlon State Medical University Ubaidullo Kurbon, heads of industry agencies and services, heads of departments and divisions of the central office of the ministry, heads of health departments of Dushanbe, GBAO, Sughd and Khatlon regions, as well as heads of republican, city and district medical institutions.
Combating childhood diarrhea is a priority
The main report on the first issue was made by the Head of the Department of Organization of Medical Services for Mothers and Children and Family Regulation Zoir Nabiyev. He reported that diarrhea remains one of the leading causes of child mortality worldwide. The disease is mainly caused by the consumption of poor quality food and contaminated water. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 780 million people do not have access to sources of clean drinking water, and 2.5 billion people do not have access to improved sanitation.
According to WHO, rotavirus infection causes about 110 million cases of mild diarrhea, 10 million cases of moderate diarrhea, and 9 million cases of severe diarrhea in children under five every year. In 2019, 1.73 billion cases of diarrhea were registered worldwide, of which 2% were severe. Of the 7.6 million deaths among children under five in the same year, about 64% (4.879 million) were caused by infectious diseases, 10.5% by diarrhea.
In order to prevent diarrheal diseases in Tajikistan, the order of the Ministry of Health No. 664 of November 26, 2008 is being implemented. Within the framework of this program, 1,227 oral rehydration points have been organized in the republic and 2,115 day beds are functioning. One of the effective measures of protection against rotavirus infection is immunization: since 2015, the rotavirus vaccine has been included in the National Immunization Calendar. All children aged two and four months receive vaccinations according to the established schedules.
Cardiology care: current situation and challenges
The second report was given by the chief specialist in cardiology of the Ministry of Health, candidate of medical sciences A.R. Narzulloyeva. She emphasized that cardiovascular diseases (CVD) continue to be the leading cause of death and disability in the country. At the same time, they stimulate the development of such areas of medical science as clinical pharmacology, epidemiology, evidence-based and digital medicine.
The speaker presented a detailed analysis of the epidemiological situation of CVD in the republic, indicated the prevalence, primary morbidity and mortality rates, and also identified problem areas that require systemic measures to improve cardiac care for the population.
Providing disabled people with rehabilitation equipment and developing a “Single Window”
The third question was raised by the Head of the Department of Social Protection of the Population, Kudratullo Kurbonzoda. He reported that provision of persons with disabilities with technical rehabilitation equipment is carried out by the State Enterprise "Dushanbe Prosthetic and Orthopedic Plant" and its branches in the cities of Khujand, Kulyab and Khorog. This is the only specialized manufacturing enterprise in the country that produces prosthetic and orthopedic products.
The main tasks of the plant are to provide disabled people with auxiliary means (wheelchairs, crutches, hearing aids, etc.), as well as their physical rehabilitation after prosthetics. At present, as noted, the plant satisfies about 80% of the need for technical means, 69% for wheelchairs and 50% for other types of rehabilitation equipment.
The plant management, together with the Ministry of Health and with the support of WHO, is developing a “Specification of auxiliary means and methods of their use.” The first volume of the document has already been presented at a meeting of the working group with the participation of WHO representatives.
As part of the Strategy for the Protection of Population Health until 2030, a pilot project "Single Window" was implemented in 2018 in the Rudaki district, which simplified access to technical means through health centers and a prosthetic and orthopedic enterprise. Today, the project has been expanded to the districts of Asht, Rasht, Dangara and Shugnan.
Following the meeting, reports were heard from representatives of health departments from all regions of the country, as well as relevant specialists. During the discussions, current problems were analyzed in detail, priority areas of work were identified, and steps to eliminate them were defined.
The Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Population, Jamoliddin Abdullozoda, gave specific instructions to heads of departments and heads of institutions to improve the quality of medical care, increase the effectiveness of preventive and treatment measures, and ensure wider access of the population to technical rehabilitation equipment.
