The Government of the Republic of Korea has provided US $ 5 million for the implementation of a COVID-19 comprehensive response program in Uzbekistan for 2021, of which US $ 4.57 million is to be contributed to the health sector, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Tashkent said.
The program’s launch ceremony, which will be implemented by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), took place on October 12. It is being implemented under the ODA Korea: Building TRUST program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea.
The ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Health Abdulla Azizov, Head of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Health Service Bakhodir Yusupaliev, Rector of the Tashkent Medical Academy Alisher Shadmanov, Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Korea Ham Sang Wook, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Kang Jae Kwon, Director of the KOICA Office in Uzbekistan Park Sun Jin, Professor at Koryo University, Choi Jae Wook and others.
As part of the program, KOICA signed memorandums of understanding with the Sanitary and Epidemiological Wellbeing and Health Service on the implementation of the KOICA program for the prevention and control of infectious diseases (worth US$ 1.6 million), as well as the Tashkent Medical Academy on the implementation of a capacity development program for the research of infectious diseases (300 thousand dollars).
This year's programs include enhancing capacity for prevention and control of infectious diseases, establishing a quality control system for laboratories for diagnosing infectious diseases, establishing a national infectious disease monitoring and vaccination system, strengthening research capacity related to coronavirus, and strengthening treatment capacity through provision of equipment to medical institutions and more.
During the ceremony, KOICA donated 87 oxygen generators worth US$ 2.32 million to the Ministry of Health to equip 35 inter-district emergency medical centers.
