Improving knowledge and skills of the health workers for health safety at the border

On 8-9 June 2022 IOM Tajikistan jointly with the Ministry of health and social protection of the Republic of Tajikistan conducted 2 days training for the 18 health workers on improving emergency health response at the points of entry. Medical workers of the epidemiology service of Dushanbe, of the sanitary and quarantine points of the cross-border checks “Dusti”, “Guliston”, “Patar”, “Sarazm”, “Kushtegirmon”, Airport Khujand, health workers of the primary health care of the cross-border communities from the Districts of the Republican Subordination, Khatlon and Sogd Oblasts took part at the training.

 Participants raised their awareness on International Health Regulations (IHR), role of the points of entry in the emergency health response, national policy on responsibility of the sanitary quarantine points, using personal protective equipment (PPE) according to public health event at the border, identifying public health risks among passengers crossing points of entry, actions need to be taken based on the revealed cases, RING approach, cooperation with other non-health colleagues in the points of entry in case of the emergency health.

Evaluation of the training demonstrated that knowledge of the health workers improved twice. Trainees highlighted practicality of the training due to individual exercises on using PPE, working in the small groups, role plays according to suggested scenario and opportunity to get answers from the highly qualified trainers.

Training was conducted within the regional project “Enhancing health and border management In Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to respond to COVID-19 and other communicable diseases” lead by IOM Tajikistan with the financial support of the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).