Health Ministry Denies Pressa.tj and Asia Plus Reports About Pneumonia Deaths
DUSHANBE, 24.04.2020. (NIAT Khovar) – The Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population is denying the recent reports published on Pressa.tj, Asia Plus and on social networks that state that allegedly three people died from pneumonia on April 23 in Dushanbe’s Medical Center No. 1.
According to the First Deputy Health Minister Saida Umarzoda, during a conversation with a Pressa.tj journalist, she had not comment on the death of three people. The conversation was about the cause of the death of four others who had died on April 21-22.
Umarzoda expressed bewilderment over why the journalist provided false information and violated professional ethical standards.
Meanwhile, Pressa.tj Editor-in-Chief Sharifi Hamdampur told the ministry’s press center that a mistake had been made in preparing the material and it would be corrected.
Such misinformation casts doubt on the work of ministry’s specialists, and also sows panic among the population.
The ministry urges the media to publish verified and official information.