Ulaanbaatar/MONTSAME/. ‘Building the Capacity for COVID-19 Diagnosis and Service Delivery for the Most Vulnerable in Mongolia amidst Pandemic’ project reached its goal and objectives and organized its closing event on May 27.

In March 2020, Rio Tinto announced to support global grassroots community for COVID-19 preparedness and recovery in countries where it operates.

As a result of the strong advocacy efforts by Rio Tinto’s subsidiary in Mongolia and Oyu Tolgoi LLC, 602 thousand USD which equals to 1.7 billion MNT has been allocated for Mongolia. UNFPA Mongolia Country Office’s project proposal to enhance the health services of Mongolia has been selected for funding.

The overall goal of the project is to building the capacity of the health facilities serving the poor and high-risk populations to accurately diagnose COVID-19 and other infections, and to provide telemedicine services for patients and pregnant women requiring regular medical checkups by specialists amid COVID-19 pandemic.

UNFPA Mongolia CO has implemented the project in partnership with Oyu Tolgoi Mongolia LLC and achieved the following results:

1. Four fully equipped PCR-based molecular diagnostic laboratories have been established at following hospitals:

• The General Hospital of Zamiin Uud soum in Dornogobi province
• The Regional Diagnostic and Treatment Center of Umnugobi province
• The National Center for Material and Child Health
• The Central State Hospital N 2

2. 86 primary health care providers are equipped with updated health care provider kits and software for outreach health services, and trained to deliver the outreach health services by telecommunicating with medical specialists.

• 52 baghs’ health care providers from Umnugobi province
• 20 baghs’ health care providers from Dornogobi province
• 14 family health centers from Songinokhairkhan district, Ulaanbaatar city

3. Handed over 510 protective coveralls and 560 N95 masks, worth of 4,976US$ to support the health professionals, working on frontline.

4. The four PCR laboratories have conducted around 30,000 PCR tests since its establishment

5. Supported the development and approval of temporary online Anternatal care guideline during COVID-19

5. The beneficiaries of the project include:

• Nearly 10,000 persons from households in baghs in Umnugobi, Dornogobi provinces and khoroos of Songinokhairkhan district of Ulaanbaatar city
• 14 laboratory specialists and technicians of the NCMCH, the UB city MCH, the Zamiin Uud hospital, Dornogobi province and the RDTC, Umnugobi province
• Over 100 primary health care providers who provide regular health services to those who live and reside in remote areas of Umnugobi, Dornogobi provinces and outskirt of Ulaanbaatar city, including pregnant women, elderly, children, newborn and persons with disabilities
• Diagnostic and outreach services of the overall Mongolian health system
• The Government of Mongolia and the State Emergency Committee have started taking precautionary measures as early as the COVID-19 broke out in the People’s Republic of China in January 2020.

During his welcoming remark at the event, the Deputy Prime Minister, Chair of the State Emergency Commission, Mr S. Amarsaikhan pointed out the importance of strengthening laboratories’ capacity to test COVID-19 and highlighted the timely support of Rio Tinto project in COVID-19 responses. On behalf of the Mongolian Government and the State Emergency Commission, he expressed sincere appreciation for the contribution made by the project in fight against this pandemic in Mongolia.

The Minister for Health, Dr S. Enkhbold stated, “On behalf of the many health workers, of the Ministry of Health and on myself, let us express our words of thankfulness to Rio Tinto Mongolia, Oyu Tolgoi Mongolia and UNFPA Mongolia Country office for their support in building laboratory capacity in health sector of Mongolia and wish them success and well-being in their work”

The project closing event was enriched with live broadcasting from laboratories specialists and primary health care providers from Dornogobi and Umnugobi provinces, who demonstrated their usage of equipment and supplies provided by the project.

The event was closed by Ms Kaori Ishikawa, Head of Office, UNFPA Mongolia, who pointed out the importance of strong partnership in successful implementation of the project and common desire and vision to combat the pandemic.