Event highlights
To help nurture the next generation of global health leaders, the WHO Country Office in Turkmenistan in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan and Myrat Garryyev State Medical University, and with the support of United Nations Volunteers, launched a 2-week intensive online spoken English course for medical students.
This was part of the broader Youth4Health initiative of Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, which brings together passionate young people from across Europe and central Asia to champion health, well-being and equity in their communities. Participants in the English course are active members of this network, already engaged in health advocacy and leadership efforts.
The course focused on strengthening students’ English communication skills, which are essential for engaging in international health dialogue. The curriculum was tailored to the needs of future health-care professionals, with a strong emphasis on medical terminology, patient communication and academic discussions.
What set this course apart was its interactive and immersive approach. With the guidance of United Nations Volunteers and native English-speaking facilitators, students participated in dynamic sessions that included role-playing, thematic discussions and real-world simulations. These activities were designed not only to build vocabulary and fluency but also to boost students’ confidence in using English in professional and clinical settings.
For many students, this course represented more than just language learning – it became a gateway to the global health community.
“It gave us an awesome chance to practise and evolve our language skills,” said Yaylymova Jahan, one of the students. “That is something that I personally have been struggling with ever since I dived into my studies, which are more medicine-related than language[-related].”
Another student, Nazik Atayeva, added, “I’ve learned so much and feel even more motivated to grow both personally and professionally. I’m very eager to participate in similar programmes in the future and hope there will be more chances to connect and learn like this.”
Alexander Dmitriev, a United Nations Volunteer who led the English course, noted, “The students were absolutely incredible. Prepared, open, passionate and full of light – they made every session feel alive. Working with them was the kind of experience every teacher dreams of.”
The initiative reflects WHO’s ongoing commitment to youth empowerment and capacity-building in Turkmenistan. By investing in young people’s skills and confidence, the programme supports the long-term goal of creating a resilient, informed and globally connected health workforce.