Dushanbe, Tajikistan, December 29, 2020 – The U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, through its new U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission, provided to the Ministry of Health and Social Protection the first delivery of equipment associated with a $2.6 million program to support the provision of medical oxygen for patients battling COVID-19 in Tajikistan.  This oxygen support program adds to almost $5 million of medical assistance the U.S. government has already provided to Tajikistan to combat COVID-19 throughout 2020.

Acting USAID Tajikistan Mission Director Keith Simmons handed over 200 medical oxygen cylinders to the First Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Population Gafur Mukhsinzoda during a ceremony on December 29.  Tajikistan is among 11 countries to receive oxygen assistance from the U.S. government, which totals $18 million dollars globally.