EMBASSY DUSHANBE REQUESTS FOR EMBASSY SCIENCE FELLOW

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000555

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES/STC ATTN: SHIRLEY HART

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KSCA TSPL SENV AMGT OTRA APER TI
SUBJECT: EMBASSY DUSHANBE REQUESTS FOR EMBASSY SCIENCE FELLOW

REF: STATE 30914

DUSHANBE 00000555 001.2 OF 002



1. Embassy Dushanbe requests one Embassy Science Fellow for
either of the two proposed projects listed below. Tajikistan is
a country with a predominantly Muslim population and is a member
of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. Post appreciates
OES' initiative to give special consideration to member
countries. As a post-Soviet country, Tajikistan has a
well-educated group of scientists ready to cooperate with
scientists from the United States on research projects.


2. Post submits the following two proposals and would be
flexible to design a scope of work that is interesting to the
Embassy Science Fellow and furthers the U.S. goal in Tajikistan
of helping to create a healthy Tajik society which would build
stability and prosperity. The poorest country in Central Asia,
Tajikistan's population faces many health challenges. The
projects would help to strengthen Tajikistan's public health
system so that it may respond appropriately to the outbreak of
disease, such as Avian Influenza. The projects would also help
Tajikistan tackle the more common diseases such as HIV/AIDS,
cholera, or tuberculosis.


3. Proposal One: Fighting Infectious Disease Capacity Assessment

Embassy Dushanbe requests a science fellow to assess the
capabilities of different infectious disease labs and make
recommendations concerning any needs for biosafety training or
lab upgrades. The Embassy Science Fellow would work closely
with the Center for Disease Control on its infectious disease
surveillance work.

Post envisions the Embassy Science Fellow would:

-- Meet with scientists and lab directors at public health and
veterinary labs to assess their disease surveillance, control,
and research capabilities.
-- Assess the current state of these labs from a biosafety
perspective to identify high-priority needs for training and
equipment that would enable Tajik scientists to work more safely
and effectively.
-- Identify areas for donor assistance.
-- Assess the status and needs of regional labs in addition to
the main labs located in Dushanbe.
-- Write an overview of Tajikistan's laboratory and disease
surveillance infrastructure.
-- Assist in organizing a disease surveillance workshop.
-- Meet with scientists working on US-funded disease research
projects to assess progress and needs.
-- Provide technical advice to the Ministry of Health and/or
Ministry of Agriculture on particular disease control priorities
they have identified.


4. Embassy Dushanbe did not host a Fellow last year and would
like to resubmit the following proposal from last year for
consideration.


5. Proposal 2: Solutions for Water Potability and Water-borne
Diseases

Embassy Dushanbe requests an Embassy Science Fellow to conduct
research on the overall situation and solutions for water
potability and water-borne disease in Tajikistan.

In Tajikistan, water-borne diarrheal diseases carry great danger
for the health of the people. According to available data,
(which, notably is insufficient),74,318 (in 1999) to 66,629
(2003) cases of diarrheal diseases are registered annually.
Approximately 80% of these cases are children under 14 years of
age.

The water supply quality is greatly affected by bad sanitary
technical conditions of pump stations and distribution networks,
lack of chlorine reagents, coagulants, and a lack of spare parts
for the facilities.

In 2001, water analyses in Tajikistan indicate that 35.3 % of
the samples did not meet the microbiological standards. The
percentage of samples not meeting the microbiological standards
was reported to be 30.7 % in 2002. The comparative analysis on
gastrointestinal infectious diseases for the last 5 years
(1999-2003) has shown that water is the major factor for
infectious diseases outbreaks.

Moreover, treating diarrheal diseases is expensive, since
medical aid is often not sought until the latest stages of the
disease, when heavy dehydration requires expensive medicines for
the treatment. More than 568,000 or 4.5 % beds per day in the
hospitals throughout the country are occupied by patients with
diarrhea, which requires a large chunk of the state health
budget. In addition, diarrheal diseases have a negative impact

DUSHANBE 00000555 002.2 OF 002


on the labor market. (All statistics above come from the
International Science and Technology Center in Russia.) No
affordable and feasible solutions have been presented to fix
this rampant problem.

A Fellow could complete the following activities:

-- Investigate the current water supply system and water-borne
diseases in Tajikistan.
-- Create a summary of the current national and international
programs in place to ameliorate the problem of water-borne
disease.
-- Present a concrete action plan for how Tajikistan can take
specific, affordable steps towards improving the supply of
potable water and decreasing the frequency of water-borne
diarrheal disease in the country.


6. Additional Skills Required

Knowledge of Russian language is strongly preferred in addition
to a basic knowledge of and experience working in the former
Soviet Union. Post would really appreciate it if OES would be
able to provide funds for the use of a translator should we
identify a qualified and enthusiastic candidate without Russian
skills. Post would also consider a candidate with
Persian/Tajiki language skills.


7. Preferred Timeframe

Embassy Dushanbe requests an ESF for a period of one to three
months to arrive no earlier than September 2007.


8. Post Commitment

Post can guarantee the Fellow housing (details to be
determined),office space, in-country travel arrangements and
logistical support as needed and stipulated in reftel.


9. Clearances

Post requests the Fellow have a Secret security clearance.
The Fellow should obtain all necessary vaccinations and
medication prior to travel to Tajikistan.
Post discourages any accompanying family members.


10. Point of Contact:

Uyen Tang
Political Officer
Telephone: +992-372-29-2505
Fax: +992-372-29-2050
HYPERLINK "mailto:Tangut2@state.gov" Tangut2@state.gov

Back up Point of Contact

David Froman
Economic Officer
Telephone: +992-372-29-2506
Fax: +992-372-29-2050
fromand@state.gov
JACOBSON