Improving specialized reanimation services in narcological centers of Uzbekistan

Substance use disorders continue to be a major problem around the world taking a toll on public health, social and economic development. For people using drugs and their families it is extremely important to know that there is quality and affordable medical aid available for drug treatment. Aiming to achieve the key Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia (ROCA) puts every effort to ensure that evidence based and quality health care is accessible, affordable and acceptable for people who use drugs, as well as to address the emergency care for those entering treatment services.  

On 22 February 2018, the UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia in Tashkent handed over reanimation equipment to the Narcological Dispensaries of Jizzakh, Fergana, Navoi and Khorazm regions of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This event is part of the "Treating drug dependence and its health consequences: Treatnet II" global initiative. 

Representatives of the Ministry of Health and chief medical officers of these regional narcological facilities received the equipment at the handover ceremony. The provided assistance contributes to the activities of the "National program of complex measures on countering drug abuse and illegal trafficking for 2016-2020" aimed at improving drug dependence treatment services and organizational forms of emergency aid.

"Since the launch of the global initiative in Uzbekistan in 2009, a lot of positive change has taken place in the system of narcological service of Uzbekistan thanks to close cooperation with UNODC. Similar intensive care equipment was installed at the narcology dispensaries in Samarkand, Bukhara, Kashkadarya and Namangan regions. Moreover, the Tashkent City Narcological Dispensary was renovated. "Naloxone" detoxification was carried out for 1,100 patients from 10 regional Narcological Dispensaries and the Republican Narcological Center. Furthermore, a team of national trainers was trained on Treatnet Training Package and UTC courses for the treatment of substance use disorders. The total number of specialists trained by national trainers in cascade training courses has exceeded 500 people." - said Mr. Bakhrom Mominov, Deputy Head of the Main Department on Treatment and Prevention, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

"The equipment that we received today will enable our centers to provide quality and timely aid in case of patients' overdose. We believe that the new equipment will help us to improve the health of our patients," - said Mr. Alisher Sharifov, the chief physician of the Narcological Dispensary of Khorazm region.

"Previously, there were cases when our center had to request intensive care support from external emergency rooms. Now, with the equipment received from UNODC, our work will become more effective, without delays and complications related to equipment." - added Mr. Oybek Dadaboyev, the Chief Physician of the Narcological Dispensary of Fergana region.

"This initiative is one of the flagship activities of UNODC in the area of drug dependence treatment. It aims at promoting access to drug dependence care and rehabilitation services that are based on scientific evidence, worldwide advocacy, capacity building and expansion of services. The UNODC efforts in Uzbekistan, so far, have contributed to increase access to quality dependence treatment and care services by making them more accessible and affordable for people." - said Ms. Ashita Mittal, the UNODC Regional Representative for Central Asia in her opening address.

The "Treating drug dependence and its health consequences: Treatnet II" global initiative is being implemented in 20 countries of four regions of the world including five countries of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan). The initiative is generously funded by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.