In March 2020, at the start of the global pandemic, the Tajikistan Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population (MoHSPP) approved the national COVID-19 Country Preparedness and Response Plan. The Plan aims to align disease surveillance, provision of health services, and risk communication activities and is reviewed and adapted regularly. Tajikistan announced its first cases of COVID-19 on April 30, 2020. 

Since that time, COVID-19 cases have strained hospital capacity and revealed systemic gaps and challenges in Tajikistan’s health system. LHSS Tajikistan is working closely with USAID and other partners to address immediate epidemic prevention, detection, and response needs while strengthening the existing national health system.  

Working in support of the national COVID-19 emergency response, LHSS assistance aims to –  

• Support the MOHSPP in implementing the Tajikistan COVID-19 Country Preparedness and Response Plan against COVID-19.  
• Improve detection and reducing COVID-19 incidence through targeted technical assistance to the national laboratory system. 
• Support the implementation of the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan against COVID-19.  
• Reduce the mortality and social consequences of the outbreak through targeted technical assistance to the Republican Center for Immunization and Prevention and primary health care.