EU and FAO Aid Uzbekistan’s Management of Hazardous Chemicals

On 1 May, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan held an inception workshop in Tashkent on technical assistance for the sound management of hazardous chemicals. The joint venture, implemented with financial support from the European Union, is designed to enhance the effectiveness of mechanisms and tools for the management of hazardous chemicals and related waste. A key goal cited by the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan, is to reduce the use of dangerous pesticides in agriculture, through the introduction and promotion of alternative methodologies amongst farmers. Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, stressed that by actively striving to reduce the use of highly hazardous pesticides, Uzbekistan aims to lower their adverse impact on the nation’s health and environment, in addition to making a significant contribution to  UN Sustainable Development Goals. Regarding plans to address the issue, he  announced, “We need to revise our inventory of contaminated areas of former agricultural airfields and other sites, the last of which, was carried out in the ‘90s when more than 450 former agricultural airfields were identified.” Praising the move, Wim Riepma, Head of Cooperation Section, EU Delegation to Uzbekistan, stated: "Our partnership with the Government of Uzbekistan and FAO exemplifies a collective commitment to protecting the environment and public health, by cleaning up legacy waste, by improving waste management, and by reducing pesticide waste production. Integrated pest management and awareness of health and environmental risks are key to a healthier, environment- friendly and economically viable agriculture sector.” Sherzod Umarov, Assistant FAO Representative in Uzbekistan, likewise emphasized, "The project implementation will enable an improved institutional capacity for sound pesticide management and better data on hazardous wastes in agriculture allowing development of a national waste management strategy. The project also aims to scale up green practices in the agricultural sector leading to reduced risks to farmers and consumers from the use of pesticides and to food production relying on less toxic pesticides and biological protection tools.”  

US Helps Kyrgyzstan Prepare for Future Pandemics

A Global Health Security and Pandemic Preparedness Program was launched last week. The joint initiative between the United States, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Health Organization, and a consortium of other organizations, aims to improve Kyrgyzstan’s resilience against public health emergencies and coordinates with the United Nation’s ‘One Health’ policy linking human, animal, and environmental health. As reported by the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek, the program will target seven key areas in Kyrgyzstan: tracking and reducing antimicrobial resistance; monitoring zoonotic diseases transmissible between animals and humans; strengthening national laboratory systems; disease surveillance; building capacity within the healthcare workforce; developing risk communication and community engagement strategies; and bolstering health emergency management. U.S. Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Lesslie Viguerie stated, “The United States Government ranks global health security among its top five priorities. Today’s event marks the next chapter in our long collaboration for improving Kyrgyz health care. We worked side-by-side during the COVID-19 pandemic and continued to do so in the pandemic recovery phase. We have made tremendous advancements in detecting and treating tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. Many lives have been saved thanks to the collaborative efforts between our governments. With the timely launch of the National Action Plan for Health Security last year, the Kyrgyz Republic is taking a lead role to prepare its health systems for any future pandemics.” The Deputy Minister of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic Bubuzhan Arykbaeva further endorsed the initiative saying, “We are confident that with USAID funding this program will play a critical role in supporting key technical areas of the National Action Plan for Health Security. The implementation of the Global Health Security program in the Kyrgyz Republic will allow our country to create a more stable foundation for future response to threats in the field of public health.”