Tajik village remains free of COVID-19
How has Shodmon village remained free of COVID-19? Through the quick thinking and actions by Abdurahmat Rahmatov, head of the Shodmon Village Organisation (VO).
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in December 2019, Coronavirus has become a pandemic, infecting millions across the globe. Tajikistan announced cases of COVID-19 at the end of April 2020, and was one of the last places to do so after closing its borders and shutting down cross-border travel in an effort to keep the virus out of the country. The country’s healthcare systems are now under pressure, with nearly 5,700 confirmed cases. As citizens are quarantining and bracing themselves for a precarious future, an anomalous village that sits on the ancient Silk Road has been spared by the pandemic.
Located in the Nurabad district of Rasht, Shodmon is famous for its medical herbs, rivers and springs, and historical sites and it has been a geographical focus of the Mountain Societies Development Support Programme (MSDSP), an initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) for some years. Along with their sister agencies, the Aga Khan Health Services and the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat, AKF and MSDSP have been contributing to improving the quality of life in communities like Shodmon and others in Rasht since 2002. Through a multisectoral approach, AKF has been supporting livelihoods and helping to build resilience among community members by working with civil society to create economic opportunities and improved health systems. Building the capacity of Village Organisations and people like Abdurahmat Rahmatov has been a critical part of this work.
“During the lockdown, food prices increased dramatically. Migrants remained in uncertain situations, remittance-dependent households suffered, and all found it hard to meet their basic needs and access to food products,” said Rahmatov.
As a head of the Village Organization, Rahmatov decided to take action. First, he asked volunteers to join him in distributing COVID-19 prevention communication materials brought by MSDSP to individual households. They went door to door providing materials, and explaining to people the importance of hand-washing and wearing masks in public places.
He also contacted local entrepreneurs with a request to support disadvantaged families. They expressed a willingness to support his community, and provided food, clothes, face masks, soaps, and antiseptics to residents.
“I wish people around the world to stay united, support each other and fight this global pandemic jointly. Together we are stronger and can win this virus and return to a normal life. I wish everyone good health and safety,” says Rahmatov.
Read the full interview below:
When did you first hear about COVID-19? What did you think or feel at that time?
I, as well as the majority of members of Shodmon village, heard about Coronavirus in early March 2020 through MSDSP. MSDSP provided communications materials with basic language and demonstrations on proper hand washing, wearing masks and social distancing.
As a head of the VO, I was very worried about the community’s limited knowledge about the virus and on preventative measures. I saw on the news how developed countries faced challenges to overcome its impact, and I was concerned that we would have more barriers to overcome this. I realised COVID prevention would be the best way to help people in my village and I should take all steps to do it.
How has COVID-19 had an impact on you and your community?
During the lockdown period, food prices increased dramatically. Migrants remained in uncertain situations. Many within the country were stuck, and those abroad lost jobs and couldn’t even return home. Vulnerable and remittance-dependent households suffered in particular and found it hard to meet their basic needs in accessing food products.
How are you contributing to the fight against this pandemic? Why are you taking action?
As a head of the VO, I felt responsible to help people in my village and so I took action. Firstly, I have asked our VO volunteers, youth and women’s committees to join me in distributing COVID-19 prevention communications materials brought by MSDSP to individual households. We went house to house providing these materials, explaining to people the importance of washing hands with soap, using antiseptics, and wearing masks in public places.
I also contacted local entrepreneurs Davlatov Makhmaiso and Rahimov Sainemon with a request to support disadvantaged families. Both entrepreneurs understood the situation and expressed their willingness to support us. As a result, Davlatov provided 2,300kg of carrots, 400kg of potato, and 50 portions of soup to 20 families, as well as supported 10 orphans in the village with clothes, masks, antiseptics and soup. Rahimov from his side provided 40 people (mainly those in need including pensioners, disabled people, and orphans) with the equivalent of $2,000 — $50 to each person.
I went to Dushanbe to meet with entrepreneurs from Shodmon village to discuss the difficulties we are experiencing due to lockdown. One of the entrepreneurs, Aliev Jamshed, swas pleased to support, and the next day sent to Shodmon 240 sacks of flour and 575 litres of oil — the equivalent of $7,800 in total. We then distributed a sack of flour and 5 litres of oil to each household.
I also contacted another local entrepreneur in Dushanbe, Hofizov Begijon, by phone regarding the need to provide local people with face masks, soap, and antiseptics. After two days, he sent 200 masks and 5 litres of antiseptics for local people, and 40 litres of chlorine which we used to chlorinate public places.
In addition, myself and other VO members used some money from the Village Development Fund (VDF) to buy Personal Protective Equipment for 20 local doctors.
Thanks to peace and independence in the country, more support is underway to support local people and prevent them from unnecessary displacement.
What is an object you use every day that helps you in the fight against COVID-19? Why or how does it help you?
As a head of the VO in Shodmon, we developed the VDF where community members contribute a certain amount on a monthly basis, to support people through difficult times. During this pandemic, we used this fund for the urgent needs of vulnerable members.
MSDSP supports VOs like ours in Shodmon to effectively identify, fund and manage the villages own development, including through means like the VDF. Moreover, MSDSP is supporting local authorities to safely manage quarantine facilities by providing sanitation supplies.
The cooperation between local entrepreneurs, MSDSP and AKF will continue to help prevent residents of Shodmon from contracting COVID-19, support those who cannot work due to the lockdown, and further develop our beautiful village. It is worth noting that a different project by the Aga Khan Foundation provided our village with access to a clean water supply system that has contributed to hygiene and sanitation practices that are essential to COVID prevention.
What is one thing you would like to say to the rest of the world, about this global challenge we are all facing together?
I am thankful to God that until today, no single person got infected with Coronavirus in Shodmon village. This is thanks to MSDSP’s early awareness, communication materials, and timely support from the local entrepreneurs.
I wish people around the world to stay united, support each other and fight this global pandemic jointly. Together we are stronger and can beat this virus and return to a normal life. I wish everyone good health and safety.
