The Merlin team battled blizzards to deliver supplies to avalanche survivors in the Rasht Valley Read more

Tajikistan became an independent republic when the former Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. During the Soviet era, the Tajik people were relatively affluent with abundant food, medicines, skilled staff, jobs and education. Following independence, rivalries between ethnic and political groups escalated into a five-year civil war from 1992 which left 60,000 people dead and 600,000 homeless. Loss of Soviet support was a devastating blow to the economy, which has yet to recover as few commodities are produced for export or even domestic consumption.

Today, the government is still unable to adequately fund essential health services. Infectious diseases, particularly typhoid and malaria, have increased, exacerbated by lack of access to affordable health care, poor water and sanitation, and widespread poverty. The spread of animal-to-human diseases such as brucellosis also pose a major threat to the health of the local population. Tajikistan is also one of the most disaster prone countries in the world. Steep valleys with few trees and high mountains leave towns and villages extremely prone to the effects of frequent earthquakes, landslides, floods and avalanches. The lack of national capacity to prepare for emergencies means that disasters continue to have a devastating impact on affected communities, claiming lives, destroying infrastructure and preventing economic development.

HOW MERLIN IS HELPING:

Controlling infectious diseases
In the Khatlon and Rasht Valley regions, Merlin is enhancing the capacity of the health system to control infectious diseases. Currently, doctors and other health workers are being trained to diagnose and monitor infectious diseases and to provide community health education. Merlin also supports laboratories by supplying and repairing equipment used to diagnose typhoid, dysentery, brucellosis and malaria, and by training laboratory staff. In addition, Merlin is providing hospitals with medicines to treat diseases like typhoid and malaria. Through this programme, 135,000 people in both regions have gained access to medical care.

Managing disasters
The Rasht Valley – home to 278,900 people – is an area that is regularly affected by natural disasters such as avalanches and mudslides. Merlin is implementing a three-year disaster preparedness programme in the region by training local authorities and volunteers to recognise, manage and plan for disasters. Field simulation exercises are carried out to prepare communities for real disasters, while school teachers are trained in first aid, search and rescue, and disaster management skills. Merlin is also creating rapid response teams to deal with disease outbreaks and health emergencies.

Controlling brucellosis
Tajikistan has seen a rising incidence of brucellosis - a disease that is spread to humans from infected animals, either through direct contact or by consuming their milk or cheese. The illness in humans is debilitating and requires costly treatment for several months. In Khatlon Province, where livestock breeding is a major component of livelihoods among rural communities, Merlin is helping local authorities, farmers and vets to control and prevent brucellosis. Activities include conducting mass animal vaccinations, improving diagnostic skills of laboratory workers, supplying laboratories with diagnostic equipment, and training physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Key Achievements

• Medical kits and water bladders supplied to four rural clinics damaged by an earthquake in south-west Tajikistan in July 2006
• 700 doctors trained in diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases between 2004 and 2006
• 120 community groups trained in disaster management between 2004 and 2006
• Approximately 1,000 tonnes of water in addition to water and sanitation equipment supplied to Tajikistan’s capital of Dushanbe following flooding in July 2004
• Four earthquake-damaged rural clinics in south-west Tajikistan supplied with essential drugs kits and water bladders in July 2006

Supporters of Merlin's work in Tajikistan include the European Commission (ECHO), the Canadian International Development Agency and the Japanese Embassy in Tajikistan.

Read more about Tajikistan