The U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is granting more than 66 million soms ($913,000) to three specialized organizations to increase the Kyrgyz Republic’s ability to respond to the ongoing COVID-19  pandemic. The focus will be on infection control, disease prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment, and public information. These priority areas and interventions were designed in consultations with the Ministry of Health and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The first recipient of the grant is the World Health Organization (WHO). They will focus on response coordination, clinical training, laboratories, surveillance, and personal protective equipment.

The second recipient is the Local Health Systems Strengthening Program implemented by Abt Associates. The assistance will focus on infection prevention and control, surveillance, and active case finding. If needed, the program may procure additional medical supplies to control the disease.

The third recipient is the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The assistance will focus on public information about how to avoid infection, community preparedness, and contact tracing for those who might have been exposed to the virus.

This emergency assistance package is in addition to the donation of personal protective equipment that USAID handed over to the Ministry of Health on March 11, 2020. The personal protective equipment included 10,000 masks; 10,000 gloves; 1,400 gowns; and 200 protective goggles. This equipment is already being distributed by the Kyrgyz Republic’s  Sanitary and Epidemiological Service to health workers and first responders across the country to enable them to react quickly and safely in treating potential COVID-19 patients.

This assistance is part of the U.S. government’s global efforts to strengthen partner countries’ capacities to prevent and control infectious disease threats such as tuberculosis, HIV, and pandemics like COVID-19.