Tajikistan’s doctors and nurses are in urgent need of your help.
This week, Tajikistan was hit by the novel Coronavirus. On April 29, there were only 15 registered cases. Today, a week later, there are 461 people infected, with 12 fatalities. These are the official statistics.
Tajikistan is a country of 9 million people, with an average wage of $40/month. A single kit of medical protective gear (suit, gloves, goggles) costs $30-50. Many doctors are quarantined inside the hospitals. They urgently need protective suits, antiseptics and medical equipment like ventilators, as cases increase 25% daily.
The country’s borders are closed, causing a large deficit in medicine and food. Moreover, migrant workers are stuck unemployed in Russia and Kazakhstan, unable to send remittances to their families. Despite government efforts to provide aid, the healthcare system is not capable to deal with this epidemic on its own.
The Soughd province of Tajikistan has been particularly affected. According to media news, medical personnel is dependent on fundraised money at present. We are looking to help two hospitals in Istaravshan and Devashtich districts respectively, remote regions of Soughd, which we have worked with before, through the non-profit Sadoqat. The rural areas have over 270 000 residents overall from remote areas of the districts, with only two rudimentary hospital facilities, far from many villages.
Doctors requested help purchasing personal protective devices, basic medical items and perhaps ventilators if we secure sufficient funds.
Through the NGO Sadoqat, we aim to purchase 200 sets of protective gear (suit, goggles, boots, mask, gloves) for the Devashtich and Istaravshan hospitals ($39/set), azithromycin pills, and 400 mL infusions of reamberin. If finances allow, the hospitals will look to also purchase ventilators. We also hope funds can be provided to provide food assistance to cleaning personnel at the hospitals.
All funds will be devoted for these purposes, and we will provide regular updates on what is purchased. Please feel free to share suggestions and ideas. This is a rapidly progressing epidemic, please donate before it is too late!
Source:gofundme.com
