Central Asia

HIV is a leading cause of death and a health threat to millions worldwide. As a key implementer of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), CDC works with the governments of the Central Asia region (primarily Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan) to build sustainable, high-impact national HIV response programs with the goal of achieving epidemic control of HIV. CDC supports the use of epidemiological data to develop and scale up high-impact HIV prevention and treatment services that reach key populations (particularly persons who inject drugs) in high-burden regions. CDC also provides direct financial and technical assistance to Republican AIDS Centers and Republican Narcological Centers in all three countries, which supports these government organizations to develop and execute evidence-based strategies and guidelines for HIV infection control.

Helping countries respond to public health threats quickly and effectively within their borders is critical to prevent the spread of disease regionally and around the world. CDC works in the Central Asia region with local, regional, and global public health organizations to support disease outbreak response, surveillance, laboratory systems, and workforce development. The Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) is a global partnership launched in 2014 to help make the world safer and more secure from infectious disease threats. Kazakhstan is a GHSA partner country, and CDC and the Kazakhstan Ministry of Health (MOH) are working together to carry out joint global health security activities. In Uzbekistan, with CDC support, the MOH established a National Center for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), which is responsible for conducting AMR surveillance, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and reporting data. CDC also works with the Uzbekistan MOH on Hepatitis C elimination.

Through collaboration with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the Cooperative Biological Engagement Program, CDC builds clinical and laboratory capacity in the region to minimize biosecurity threats. In Kazakhstan, CDC staff, in collaboration with the MOH, strengthen public health workforce capacity by training clinicians and laboratory specialists to recognize and confirm cases of especially dangerous pathogens (EDPs). CDC is working with public health laboratories across Kazakhstan to build a robust network of laboratories by strengthening quality management systems, standard operating procedures, training requirements, and the legal and regulatory framework governing laboratories in the country. CDC also works in Kazakhstan with the MOH, hospitals and public health laboratories to improve the surveillance and testing of EDPs and antimicrobial drug-resistant pathogens. In Uzbekistan, CDC assists the MOH to develop scientific and practical guidelines for EDPs (most recently brucellosis and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever) and designs and conducts seminars focused on developing policies, tools and best practices for EDPs.

CDC supports Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in strengthening the capacity of their workforce to investigate and respond to disease outbreaks through the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP). FETP trains a workforce of field epidemiologists—or disease detectives—to identify and contain outbreaks before they become epidemics. Participants focus on “learning by doing” to develop the skills for gathering critical data and turning it into evidence-based action. The Central Asia FETP was established in 2003 in partnership with the MOHs in the Central Asian region. Over the years, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have ceased active participation. Kazakhstan is currently transitioning the program to the local government with CDC guidance.

Influenza viruses are constantly changing and require continued vigilance to protect the United States and the rest of the world from seasonal influenza and novel viruses that could trigger a pandemic. CDC works with the Kyrgyzstan MOH to help build surveillance and laboratory capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to influenza threats. In Kyrgyzstan, CDC helped establish National Influenza Centers, which are part of the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System. In Kazakhstan, CDC worked with the MOH to establish nine sentinel surveillance sites, whose data is reported by the national government to the World Health Organization (WHO). Kazakhstan no longer receives direct assistance from CDC, but maintains an active partnership with CDC and WHO and follows International Health Regulation standards and practices.