On Friday, June 19^th, the UNDP and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria donated two ventilators for artificial respiration to the penitentiary system hospital for a total amount of 47,616.83 USD. These lifesaving devices will be used to help patients with Covid-19 and other diseases causing respiratory distress.

“At the UNDP, we are committed to support health services for all, including the most vulnerable groups of the population. No one should be left behind in this global effort to end Covid-19,” said Jenty Kirsh-Wood, Deputy Resident Representative of the UNDP in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Earlier this week, the UNDP, under its Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria - financed Project “Effective HIV and TB control project in Kyrgyz Republic” had already provided eight ventilators for the civil health care system and 6550 PCR tests for Covid-19, in addition to the 50,000 surgical masks and 2,000 FFP2 respirators donated beforehand. 

Continued support to prisoners

The UNDP / Global Fund project works with 14 facilities within the penitentiary system to provide HIV and TB prevention, diagnostic and treatment. In this framework, the UNDP purchases quality treatment and monitoring tests for prisoners with HIV and drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Prevention activities include regular testing and consultations. In the first quarter of 2020, 1451 convicts were tested for HIV and the 10 people who were found HIV positive were started on  the treatment. The project also provides methadone substitution treatment for prisoners who used to inject drugs, reducing their risks of contracting HIV and other bloodborne infections. 363 people benefited from this treatment in the first five months of 2020.

Regardless of the unexpected Covid-19 pandemic and the quarantine measures taken to limit the spread of the new virus, these health services in the penitentiary system were not interrupted. The project also provided preventive information on Covid-19 both to health care workers within prison system and prisoners. 

Emergency response to Covid-19

The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria promptly reacted to the new pandemic  and allowed beneficiary countries to reallocate savings and planned funding to fight the unexpected Covid-19 outbreak. After request from the Country Coordinating Mechanism for HIV and TB, the project donated material aid under this emergency response for a total amount of 420 000 USD.

The UNDP / Global Fund project is also working closely with partners to adapt its response to the HIV and TB epidemics in the country, ensuring continued treatment for patients, timely diagnosis and prevention for key population groups regardless of the difficult situation. 

Press contacts:

Ainagul Abdrakhmanova

ainagul.abdrakhmanova@undp.org

+996 770 183 493