On 21st of May, 2018 the 71st session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) began its work in Geneva. The delegation of Turkmenistan from the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan has been taking part in the above-mentioned session, which coincides with the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the World Health Organization.
An important strategic platform for discussing topical health issues, on both regional and global levels, was opened by the President of the Swiss Confederation, Mr. Alain Berset, and the WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Health ministers and delegates from the 194 Member States of WHO gathered together to discuss a wide range of issues including the Thirteenth General Program of Work for 2019-2023, a five-year strategic plan to help countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Among the major topics of the discussions on 71st session of the will be the preparations for the third High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases to be held in the framework of forthcoming UN General Assembly in September 2018.
Within the framework of the current session, Turkmenistan co-sponsored the WHO Resolution titled "Improving Access to Assistive Technologies". Furthermore the representative of the delegation of Turkmenistan was elected to the Credentials Committee of the WHA 71st session.
Turkmenistan joined the WHO in 1992. Since the first days of its Independence, healthcare has been one of the priorities of the policy of Turkmenistan. More emphasis is being placed on the role of preventive focus in healthcare activities based on intersectoral cooperation. An example of this will be the Government's efforts to make Turkmenistan a country free from tobacco by 2025.
The 71st session of the WHA will finish its work on May 26, 2018.
