A Public Health Emergency Operations Center has also been opened in Nukus with US support
A Public Health Emergency Operations Center aimed at the early detection and elimination of epidemic risks has begun operations in Nukus. Such centers, which were also opened in Termez in April, are being established with the support of the United States and UNICEF.
Public Health Emergency Operations Center launched in Nukus with US support
On November 4, the opening ceremony of the Public Health Emergency Operations Center was held in Nukus, Karakalpakstan.
It is emphasized that this event is an important step towards strengthening preparedness and response capabilities for infectious disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies in the northwestern part of the country and beyond.
The new center will assist health authorities in turning early information on emerging threats into coordinated operational action.
Its operational functions include incident management, emergency response activation procedures, situation monitoring, and information sharing among organizations responsible for public health emergency preparedness and response.
The center was established by the Sanitary-Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health Committee of Uzbekistan with financial support from the US government and technical assistance from UNICEF under the Global Health Security Program.
Heather Burns highlighted the importance of international cooperation in strengthening health security.
"Thorough emergency preparedness is important not only for Uzbekistan, but also for the United States. Epidemics know no national borders. Therefore, global health cooperation protects us all," she said.
In April 2026, a Public Health Emergency Operations Center was also opened in Termez.
"These two regional centers demonstrate the progress being made toward forming an interconnected system for managing public health emergencies across the country," the diplomatic mission said in a statement.
He spoke about the long-term vision of creating a unified national network of such centers in all 14 administrative regions of Uzbekistan.
"The long-term effectiveness of such a system depends not only on buildings and equipment. For effective preparedness, engaging local communities, reliable information, risk communication, and capacities to counter misinformation are also crucial. These measures help families understand risks, take protective measures, and maintain trust in the public health system's response during crises," he stressed.
Botirjon Qurbonov listed government priorities for strengthening institutional preparedness and coordination.
"Our priority is to equip national and regional institutions not only with the necessary infrastructure, but also with the capacity for early detection of public health threats, effective coordination, and timely action to protect public health," he said.