COVID-19: UNDP and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria are transferring equipmen

Today, on July 28, 2021, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria handed over a CT scanner to the Republican Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital of the Ministry of Health and Social Development. This technology helps to establish an accurate and early diagnosis for many diseases, and in this context is of paramount importance to support the timely diagnosis of complications associated with COVID-19. This is one of the few devices for performing computed tomography in the state healthcare system of Kyrgyzstan.

The device was purchased by UNDP within the framework of the project of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria "Effective control of HIV and tuberculosis in the Kyrgyz Republic" in the amount of 407,247.72 US dollars. The Republican Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital, which has completely renovated the tomography room at the expense of state funds, is at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19.

The CT scanner was installed by an international expert and is already functioning. In addition to COVID-19-related diagnostics, this equipment will be used for free screening of tuberculosis patients, people living with HIV and key population groups within the framework of the UNDP project "Effective Control of HIV and Tuberculosis". CT is especially useful for the timely detection and treatment of tuberculosis in children.

"At UNDP, we firmly believe that every life matters, and this event once again testifies to our constant and fruitful cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Kyrgyz Republic. We hope that during the global pandemic, this equipment will help medical workers to establish a timely and accurate diagnosis, preventing serious complications in patients and thus saving more lives," Inga Babicheva, coordinator of the UNDP project "Effective HIV and Tuberculosis Control", said during the handover ceremony.

UNDP has been implementing Global Fund grants since 2011, actively supporting programs to combat HIV and tuberculosis in the Kyrgyz Republic, providing high-quality prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care. Additional funds were allocated to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and support the health system.