European Union and UNDP transferred medical consumables to people in rural regions of Uzbekistan

On April 30, 2020 a ceremony of the transfer of medical consumables for residents of makhallas in the regions of Samarkand, Ferghana, Syrdarya, Khorezm, Surkhandarya and Kashkadarya was held to transfer personal protective equipment to protect people from COVID-19 spread.

As part of efforts to support the Government of Uzbekistan in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus and protect the population, the European Union Delegation in Uzbekistan and the United Nations Development Program have allocated funds for the purchase of personal protective means for people in rural communities.

In his interview the Ambassador Eduards Stiprais, Head of the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan said:“The coronavirus pandemic is a global crisis that changing life for many people worldwide. In this difficult time when the world faces health crisis European Union remains reliable partner to the government of Uzbekistan on responding to the humanitarian needs, strengthening health, water and sanitation systems as well as mitigating the immediate social and economic consequences”.

The main target of this initiative are the most vulnerable people in rural areas, especially women and children, with protection against coronavirus.

52,000 reusable gauze masks and 3800 units of antiseptic were purchased for the handing over them to community member of the six pilot regions of the project with a total population of 31,221 people. Along with the protective means, posters and booklets were handed out to increase public awareness of reducing the risks of infection and protecting against the spread of #COVID19 in Uzbekistan.

Medical consumables were procured within the EU funded project «Technical capacity building»  implemented by the UNDP in Uzbekistan, as part of the broader «Sustainable management of water resources in rural areas in Uzbekistan». The medical masks and antiseptics will be disseminated through Makhalla leaders in pilot communities with support of basin water management authorities in each region.

This initiative is part of a immediate response package developed jointly by partners to help overcome the COVID-19 crisis.