Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 14 / Trend J. Nasibova /
The main goal of the international humanitarian organization Oxfam is to reduce poverty. The implementation of Oxfam's project "The Development of healthy communities through responsible local governance" was another step in that direction, Oxfam Representative Office Director in Azerbaijan Shovket Alizade said at the conference on "Reforms in rendering first aid" in Baku today.
"Poor people in remote villages and regions often do not have information about obtaining certain medical services, including free ones," she said. "This project was designed to improve the situation."
The project was implemented in December 2012. It covers over 60,000 people in Barda, Tartar, Oguz, Goranboy, and Yevlakh. Around 49 health centers have been equipped with the necessary medical equipment as well as 21 medical facilities, water supply systems and sewerage systems in 12 health centers have been repaired over the last four years.
According to a survey of families, living in the areas of the project implementation, the expenditure of 275 families for medical care decreased from 148.1 Manat to 64.2 Manat from 2008 to 2012. Around 161 families are not involved in the community during the same period. The expenditure rose from 127.2 Manat to 237.5 Manat per family.
Head of the EU program in Azerbaijan, Amouri Khoste said that the Azerbaijani government has shown great interest in its implemented reforms and is ready for further reforms in the health sector.
The official exchange rate is 0,7849 AZN/USD on Dec. 14.