Expanding rehabilitation access in Tajikistan

The Tajikistan Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population, in partnership with WHO, has increased access to rehabilitation for people from 4 rural districts.

At least 50% of people living in low- and middle-income countries lack access to the rehabilitation services they require. A key strategy to address this is to make rehabilitation services available in primary care (PC) facilities. The World Health Organization Basic package of interventions for rehabilitation (Basic PIR) aims at training primary care workers to identify people with rehabilitation needs, assess the challenges they face with every day activities, provide simple rehabilitation interventions and make referrals if necessary, in settings where there are not enough rehabilitation specialists.

The Tajikistan Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population (MoHSP), identified primary care doctors and nurses for a 5-day training, which took place in July 2024. Participants are now providing access to basic rehabilitation using the Basic PIR in 4 rural districts.  WHO continues to mentor them using a digital online group. Follow up visits to the trainees are being done by MoHSP officials, 2 Tajikistan rehabilitation specialists and WHO in their primary care clinics to provide support, assess, and guide their rehabilitation work.

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