The COVID-19 pandemic placed extraordinary stress on the Kyrgyz Republic’s health system and health care providers, revealing the need for new approaches that would address the immediate needs brought on by the pandemic and contribute to the country’s health system resilience.

“As health care workers, we know our communities best and can help save lives when we have the best training and information.” — Gulsunmoh Abdulloeva

Through intensive engagement with residents, health workers and other community leaders countered misinformation and eased people's concerns. The result: thousands more COVID-19 vaccinations.

This fact sheet provides a summary of activity progress in Central Asia as well as results and impact.

LHSS worked from April 2020 to November 2022 to address the immediate needs of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic related to prevention, detection, and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This fact sheet summarizes focus areas, results, and impact.

Health workers play a central role not only in providing continued care for COVID-19 patients, but also in promoting vaccination and combating misinformation, with evidence-based health education. 

In Tajikistan, LHSS addresses immediate epidemic prevention, detection, and response needs while building on the existing in-country national health system and health system resilience strategies. 

Early in the pandemic, there were no laboratories equipped for PCR testing in Khujand, Tajikistan’s second largest city. To address this challenge, LHSS teamed with USAID’s mission in Tajikistan and the country’s Ministry of Health to train laboratory specialists throughout the nation. 

The Universal Nurse Model merges functions of three types of physician-directed nurses into one patient-centered nursing role, allowing better health outcomes with the same number of doctors and nurses.