Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan first stops for new WHO Regional Director for Europe

19 February 2020

Dr Hans Kluge made Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan his first official visit as the new WHO Regional Director for Europe. Meeting with representatives from both Governments as well as UN counterparts and civil society representatives during the five-day visit, he discussed a range of issues and visited polyclinics providing primary health care and treating patients with tuberculosis (TB).

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Shortly after arriving in Uzbekistan, the WHO team (left) including Director of the WHO Global TB Programme Dr Tereza Kasaeva, WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Kluge and WHO Representative to Uzbekistan Dr Lianne Kuppens, alongside Special Envoy on Universal Health Coverage Professor Vytenis Andriukaitis, discussed the planned visit.

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A kick-off meeting with representative of the UN country team in Uzbekistan Helena Fraser (right) and UN Head of Agencies. Dr Hans Kluge explained the vision for health in the WHO European Region. The parties also discussed ways of strengthening the UN partnership to help Uzbekistan achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

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A meeting with Minister of Health of Uzbekistan Dr Alisher Shadmanov. Both WHO/Europe and Uzbekistan signed a biennial collaboration agreement which focuses on achieving: fundamental health reforms, universal health coverage with strong primary health care, and working together to improve health, strengthen health systems, address antimicrobial resistance and reduce the number of noncommunicable diseases and other health concerns.

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A meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mr Djamshid Kuchkarov to discuss funding commitments for universal health coverage; from decreasing poverty to tackling noncommunicable diseases and ending TB.

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This was followed by a meeting with the Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to discuss poverty reduction, HIV urgency and health sector reform as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. From left to right: Mr Abdulaziz Kamilov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, Dr Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, Dr Lianne Kuppens, WHO Representative to Uzbekistan, and Mr Abdujabbar Abduvakhitov, State Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan.

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At Polyclinic No. 47 in Tashkent, Dr Kluge and Dr Shadmanov met and spoke with health workers to discuss TB control and noncommunicable diseases. 2020 has been designated the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, highlighting the importance of nurses and midwives in the field of health. Also on the agenda was Uzbekistan’s readiness to respond to potential cases of COVID-19.

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The final meeting before moving on to Kazakhstan was held with the “voice of the community” – civil society and NGOs working to achieve Health for All, end TB, beat NCDs while also focusing on HIV and reproductive health.

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Meeting with Dr Yelzhan Birtanov, Minister of Health of Kazakhstan. Dr Hans Kluge signed a biennial collaboration agreement committing WHO/Europe and Kazakhstan to work towards universal health coverage with a focus on primary health care, as well as ensuring emergency readiness.

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Dr Kluge also met with Chairwoman of the Senate of Kazakhstan Ms Dariga Nazarbayeva to discuss health priorities, including the new State Programme that will double spending on health to 5% of the country’s GDP. 60% of these funds will be allocated to public health and primary health care, marking an important commitment following the 2018 Astana Declaration on Primary Health Care.

Office of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan

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Dr Kluge and Dr Caroline Clarinval also met with the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan to discuss the country’s readiness to respond to potential cases of COVID-19 and the global leadership on primary health care demonstrated by the country after the Astana Conference in 2018.

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Dr Kluge and Dr Birtanov also visited Kazakhstan’s new Emergency Operations Centre. One of the priorities of the Thirteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 13) involves protecting more people from health emergencies.

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A field trip to primary health care facilities gave Dr Kluge an opportunity to speak to health care workers and patients. Almira is one of the patients at the centre who is receiving treatment to improve her ability to speak.

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Shortly before departing Dr Kluge spoke to the health workers of tomorrow - students at the Astana Medical University, emphasizing that “medical students are the future backbone of health systems in the European Region and elsewhere around the world.”