UNODC Provides Support to National Policymakers and Key Stakeholders in Kyrgyzstan on Drug Use Disorder System Quality Assurance

UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia conducted a national training on “UNODC Drug Use Disorder Treatment Systems Quality Assurance” which took place in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on 28-30 November 2022.

The training was organized and conducted as part of the UNODC global project GLOJ71 “Treating drug dependence and its health consequences: Treatnet” in collaboration with the Sub-programme 3: Addressing drug problems, increasing treatment of drug use disorders and preventing HIV/AIDS” of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia 2022-2025 and Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section, UNODC HQ, and funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.

“I would like to note that the training is not only useful in obtaining information on the International Standards on QA, but also in terms of analyzing structure of the entire system of drug treatment. International experience shows that the quality of services should be not only at the level of a medical facilities providing assistance to people with addiction, but also throughout the entire system of services. A lot of situational tasks gave participants tools to assess the quality of services provided ”, said Ms. Nuriyla Sherieva, Deputy Minister of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic during the official closing ceremony of the event.  

 “It became clear that these quality standards should be implemented not only in the drug treatment system, but also in all services providing medical care for other diseases. I think it will be very useful to introduce these quality standards at the level of the Ministry of Health, first on the example of the drug treatment services, with further introduction to other medical services”, she highlighted.

Mr. Borikhan Shaumarov, Senior Programme Officer, UNODC ROCA, during his welcoming speech highlighted that the drug use disorders are serious health conditions that present a significant burden for affected individuals, their families, and communities.  He stressed that untreated drug use disorders trigger substantial costs to society including the loss of productivity, increased healthcare expenditures, costs related to criminal justice and social welfare, and other social consequences.

“Providing effective treatment and care services for drug use disorders as part of an integrated and well-coordinated treatment system is therefore an investment in health of people with drug use disorders. It is also an investment in healthy and safe development of families, communities, and countries”, outlined Mr. Borikhan Shaumarov.

The event aimed at providing support to national stakeholders in System Quality Assurance (QA), sensitizing them to drug use and drug use disorders, evidence-based responses, capacity-build national expertise in QA of the drug use disorder treatment services and systems, and gathered some 24 professionals and experts from all oblasts (regions) of Kyrgyzstan. 

They were from institutions and departments responsible for QA services including representatives of the Department of Medical Care Organization and Drug Policy of the Ministry of Health, members of the National Working Group on Quality Assurance of the drug dependency treatment services, heads and coordinators of the Republican and Regional Psychiatry and Narcology Centers as well as representatives of the Republican and Regional Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund.

UNODC’s International trainer, Dr. Maria Zarza, in on-line format provided mechanisms on effective treatment of drug users treatment and other relevant topics. Two national co-trainers from Kyrgyzstan, Dr. Elmira Kalieva and Dr. Jyldyz Bakirova, assisted the trainer.

The on-line training replicated the participatory nature of the face-to-face training and featured plenary presentations by the trainer, a range of break out group exercises with feedback, looking at system standards and issues, rating local system quality compared with the International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders and large group discussions in plenary. 

 

At the end of the trainings, Ms. Nuriyla Sherieva, Deputy Minister of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, granted an Appreciation Letter from the Ministry for fruitful cooperation to Mr. Borikhan Shaumarov, Senior Programme Officer, UNODC ROCA, Ms. Shakhnoza Ganieva, Task Manager, UNODC ROCA and Ms. Nazgul Baitikova, Project Assistant in UNODC PO in the Kyrgyz Republic. All participants received certificates on the training completion.

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For more information, contact Vasilina Brazhko (Ms.)

Communication and PR Specialist at

UNODC Criminal Justice &PVE Programmes

in Central Asia

UNODC PO in the Kyrgyz Republic

+996775987817 WhatsApp or

e-mail: vasilina.brazhko [at] un.org