On July 10, 2020, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan R.Meredov had a meeting with the experts of the consultative-technical mission of the WHO Regional Office for Europe, who are on a working visit in Turkmenistan.
As is known, the delegation of the WHO/Europe arrived to Turkmenistan with the aim of acquaintance and survey of the arrangements held in the country and procedures within the framework of the preparedness and response measures in case of COVID-19.
During the conversation, R.Meredov noted the constructiveness and effectiveness of the long-term cooperation of Turkmenistan with the World Health Organization and stressed that the Turkmen side strictly adherers to WHO recommendations. At the same time, the readiness of Turkmenistan to continue multilateral cooperation at the international and regional levels on the global fight against the pandemic was reiterated.
In turn, Head of WHO Country Office in Turkmenistan Paulina Karwowska expressed gratitude to the Government of Turkmenistan on behalf of the WHO leadership for well-coordinated organization of the visit to Turkmenistan of the mission of WHO European Regional Office and overall support. It was noted that the efforts of Turkmenistan aimed at the global counteraction against COVID-19, including the proposal on creation of the International Council of Medical Scientists and joining of Turkmenistan to the COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) are very imperative. The senior Emergency Officer at WHO/Europe, head of the mission Catherine Smallwood explained the specificity of this Platform.
The Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also noted that the National Plan of Preparing for Prevention and Response to acute infectious diseases is currently being actively implemented. The Plan of Operational Socio-Economic measures in Turkmenistan to counteract the coronavirus pandemic, which provides for the readiness of all structures to prevent the importation of COVID-19 into the country, was also approved.
He added that Turkmenistan, together with UN agencies, is currently embarking on the development of the Third National Plan, covering the humanitarian component of the country’s measures to combat the infection of COVID-19.
It was emphasized that Turkmenistan has sufficient potential and resources for the operational analysis of all cases deserving special attention, including notification of them for timely response measures.
In this context, it was noted that, taking into account scientific studies confirming the possibility of the spread of a new type of coronavirus through tiny aerosol droplets that have been kept in the air for a long time, an active information campaign is being conducted to inform the public about the level of risk that requires special protection, including the methods of minimizing it.
Today the delegation of the WHO Regional Office for Europe also had a meeting with the leadership of the Ministry of Health Protection and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, where the parties discussed the measures which are being taken on a national level as part of the preparedness response to an acute infectious disease.
