As COVID-19 cases spread in Tajikistan, people in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) grew increasingly worried about their health, their finances, and their future. People with COVID-19 symptoms living in this remote and mountainous area had limited accessibility to health centers because of difficult terrain and poor roads.

The Aga Khan Foundation and USAID's Thrive Tajikistan project stepped in to assist by supporting a virtual helpline. The helpline connected community members to healthcare and provided mental health support to both community members and healthcare professionals. Thrive Tajikistan and the Aga Khan Health Services also launched a mobile health initiative with Tcell, one of the biggest telecommunications companies in Tajikistan, to reach 1,672 community members with text messages on COVID-19, nutrition, and sanitation. More Information