DUSHANBE, August 3, 2012, Asia-Plus – The World Health Organization (WHO) is assisting hospitals in Tajikistan in preparing for emergencies, the UN News Center reports. Tajikistan is at high risk of natural disasters and extreme weather events, such as earthquakes, landslides and floods. To help strengthen the country’s capacity to respond to environment-related emergencies, WHO/Europe is supporting a hospital preparedness project in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Tajikistan and the local NGO “Centre for climate change and disaster risk reduction related to the environment.” Focusing on central hospitals in the six districts of Tajikistan most at risk, the project aims to reduce excess mortality and morbidity due to the adverse effects of extreme weather events and disasters. Participating hospitals are located in Khatlon (Shahritous and Khovaling), Sughd (Mastchoh and Panjakent), and the districts subordinate to the center (RRS) (Roudaki, Rasht). Activities to strengthen emergency preparedness in Tajikistan are part of WHO/Europe’s joint projects in the fields of environment and health dedicated in part to reducing the negative impacts of climate change on health.