VZCZCXRO2418
RR RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHDBU #0555/01 1021031
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121031Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0052
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 2052
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 1705

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