Tajikistan |
The Republic of Tajikistan in Central Asia is one of the poorest in the world. The population is generally poor, sanitation is often lacking, life expectancy is relatively short, infant and maternal mortality is high and access to education and social services is restricted. In 2002 the Government of Tajikistan developed a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) underlining the importance of intensifying economic reforms and ensuring sustainable growth and poverty reduction up to 2010. Health and education are seen as key sectors. Special emphasis was put on the development of Primary Health Care (PHC) services of good quality in order to increase access to health care for the poor. The "Health Sector Reform and Family Medicine Support Project", initiated in 2003, supported the Ministry of Health to develop affordable and sustainable models for Primary Health Care (PHC) and family medicine services, ensuring increased access for the poor.