DUSHANBE, July 25, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- An official opening of a new health center is being held in Sughd’s Spitamen district today.

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Ms. Nargis Qosimova, public relations coordinator, the Community and Basic Health Project Implementation Unit (PIU), said that construction and repairs work had been conducted under support of the Community and Basic Health Project, implementation of which is sponsored by the World Bank.  

According to her,  the center is provided with water tank, furnace for burning medical waste, generator, necessary medical equipment, cold chain system (means for storing vaccines), and ambulance.  

Physicians and nurses working with the center have taken training course on family medicine, the PIU public relations coordinator said. 

The Community and Basic Health Project for Tajikistan aims to increase access to, utilization of, and patient satisfaction with health services in project-supported areas, and to build capacity and efficiency at national, regional and district levels in administering a basic package of health benefits and introducing financing reforms in primary health care.  The project, in particular, finances local technical assistance, training, medical equipment and civil works to help renew the primary health care (PHC) infrastructure in two to four districts in Sughd and Khatlon provinces and support complementary measures to improve service delivery and outreach.