As part of the Emergency Medical Team initiative coordinated by WHO, a team of medics from Poland travelled to Kyrgyzstan to share their experience from virus-hit Italy and transfer knowledge and skills to help fast-track improvements in the care of patients battling COVID-19.
WHO Kyrgyzstan identified 2 interpreters, both with medical backgrounds, who joined the team, making it much easier to discuss key technical concepts. Kyrgyzstan, alongside 16 other countries in the WHO European Region, received 1300 laboratory testing kits over 3 months from WHO European Regional Office. The country also received personal protective equipment for frontline health-care workers, as well as for laboratory staff testing swabs from patients with suspected COVID-19. More than 310 health-care workers completed online training courses in the clinical management of patients with COVID-19.
Overall, the COVID-19 response in Kyrgyzstan has been well organized and largely in line with WHO guidelines. These have been further strengthened by the presence of a medical team on the ground able to share best practices between Poland, Italy and Kyrgyzstan.
The WHO European Region has 14 WHO-certified EMTs ready to deliver rapid health care.