Between March 6 to March 16, 2024, 3 members from Yakuzemi Informative Education Center, 1 faculty member from the Physical Therapy Department at the Medical Academy (vocational school), and 1 staff from Katahira Engineering International conducted a follow-up survey in Tashkent to measure the post-training impact of JICA’s country-specific training program “Stroke Rehabilitation Training for Countries in Central Asia” conducted in September 2023.

This objective of the survey was to follow up on the progress the action plans which participants in the training developed, as well as to conduct a field survey and on-site rehabilitation training in Tashkent, to gather and organize information for the improvement of the training course, and to better understand the needs of the rehabilitation sector in Uzbekistan.

The mission visited medical institutions and rehabilitation facilities where participants of the training worked and provided technical guidance and advice. Meetings were also held with the Ministry of Health and the National Agency of Social Protection where opinions were exchanged regarding the rehabilitation sector in Uzbekistan.

During the follow-up survey, a stroke rehabilitation training was conducted for four days from March 11^th to 14^th. Approximately 40 medical professionals, including rehabilitation doctors, other medical specialists, and nurses participated in this training. Lectures and practical training was conducted by a physical therapist and an occupational therapist from Japan, who covered necessary knowledge of physical therapy and on the assessment of severity for stroke rehabilitation. This survey and training aims to further deepen the participants' understanding of rehabilitation, spread quality rehabilitation techniques in Uzbekistan, and improve the quality of life of stroke patients.

The training was also broadcasted on TV:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vjCoGgLBMI

In Uzbekistan, it is estimated that there are 1 million people in need of rehabilitation each year, but the number of people that receive rehabilitation is said to be under 30,000 annually. There is a strong need for development of medical personnel with physical therapy skills, and the Uzbek government policy also emphasizes the need for further focus on rehabilitation.