Kyrgyzstan receives medical equipment from USAID to response COVID-19

Bishkek, April 28, 2022. / Kabar /. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided Kyrgyzstan with additional laboratory, server and diagnostic equipment in support of the response to COVID-19 in the amount of KGS 31 million, according to the Republican Headquarter for Combating COVID-19. An official handover ceremony was held today with the participation of Deputy Minister of Health Uluk-Bek Bekturganov. The equipment worth KGS 31 million will be distributed among institutions throughout the country, the report said. Earlier, USAID also donated the GeneXpert device, modern diagnostic equipment, which reduces the time of testing for COVID-19 from 5 hours to 40 minutes, to the Department of State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance of the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic. This technology can accurately detect not only COVID-19, but also other infections such as tuberculosis. In addition, the department received a videoconferencing system and computers, which will allow more effective monitoring of the epidemiological situation in the country. Thus, according to Deputy Minister of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic Uluk-Bek Bekturganov, the pandemic showed that the country should be ready for a sharp increase in the incidence of COVID-19. “New strains of coronavirus are emerging, so USAID’s help to equip hospitals and other medical facilities is very important,” he said. In addition, the deputy head indicated that the Chui Regional Hospital, the National Hospital and the Osh City Clinical Hospital will also receive various equipment, including a mobile X-ray machine, a video bronchoscope, disinfection chambers and containers for transporting samples. The assistance is provided as part of the USAID program to strengthen the resilience of health systems. Since the beginning of its outbreak, USAID has allocated more than USD 7 million to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in the Kyrgyz Republic.