Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - On 9 November 2021, the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) held an opening ceremony of the Program to improve the competence of medical professionals in the field of infectious disease control. 

This program was organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan for epidemiologists, microbiologists, infectious disease specialists, virologists and parasitologists of the Service for Sanitary and Epidemiological Wellbeing and Public Health, the Tashkent Medical Academy, the Center for the Development of Qualifications of Medical Workers, and the Research Institute of Virology.

The purpose of this program is to improve the competencies of workers responsible for state policy on infectious diseases, epidemiologists through specialized training in infectious diseases, as well as to improve measures to develop a system of state surveillance of infectious diseases.

The training is carried out in cooperation with one of the leading universities in Korea - Yongse University.

From 8 to 25 November, University professors will share the best practices of the Republic of Korea with colleagues in such areas as Epidemiology and Surveillance System, Laboratory Testing Competence, Effective Treatment of Infectious Diseases, etc.

At the opening of the program, welcoming speeches from the Uzbek side were made by the rector of the Tashkent Medical Academy A.K. Shadmanov, deputy head of the sanitary and epidemiological welfare and public health service B. Kurbanov, pro-rector of the Center for the Development of Qualifications of Medical Workers M. Kasimova and Deputy Director of the Research Institute of Virology A. Khikmatullaeva The speakers recalled the continued support of the Republic of Korea, in particular the KOICA agency, in the difficult times associated with COVID-19. Thanks to the KOICA agency, as well as Yonsei University, the importance of gaining Korea's innovative experience in this area was noted, as this is an impetus for the development of the infectious disease research sector in Uzbekistan. The parties expressed confidence that with the help of the knowledge gained during these trainings, the trainees will gain valuable experience in the field of control and fight against epidemiological diseases.

In her speech, the director of the regional office of KOICA in Uzbekistan Park Sunjin noted that this training is part of the KOICA Comprehensive Program for Response to COVID-19 for 2021 in Uzbekistan (US$5 million). She expressed confidence that the above specialists who have improved their qualifications under this program will make a significant contribution to the healthcare sector of Uzbekistan. Ms. Park also noted the importance of introducing the modern experience of Korea, obtained from the leading professors of Yonsei University in future work.