DUSHANBE, 20.04.2020. (NIAT Khovar) – Although no case of COVID-19 has been officially registered, the Tajik government in collaboration with development partners continues to undertake a number of critical preventative measures.

WHO Country Manager for Tajikistan Dr. Galina Perfilieva noted that with the support of a number of development partners, the government of Tajikistan is taking important steps to strengthen its preparedness and response against the possible emergence of the virus.

She also stressed the importance of the media’s role in ensuring that the public is informed about the ways to keep themselves and their families safe and healthy.

The laboratories of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MOHSP), where testing for the novel coronavirus is conducted, have been technically approved. Laboratory staff managing the process has been trained in accordance with the required standards of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) laboratories. This was confirmed by Dr. Perfilieva during a training seminar for journalists on the global pandemic which took place in Dushanbe on 17-18 April.

She also noted that COVID-19 test systems used in Tajikistan are certified by WHO. In February and early March 31 samples were sent to Moscow and London for verification, and similar verification measures using WHO reference laboratories in Europe are also in the works. The WHO is the mandated technical partner actively supporting the MOHSP in this important work.

“Up to and including 16 April, a total of 2,317 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in the designated laboratories, of which 440 were repeats,” said Dr. Perfilieva.

Testing is carried out only for those exhibiting certain symptoms which accompany the virus, such as high fever, dry cough, chest pain and sore throat.

The seminar was organized by the initiative of  MOHSP’s Press Center in collaboration with UNICEF in order to increase the level of knowledge of those in media when covering issues related to the pandemic.