Event highlights
14 March 2025
Turkmenistan is taking decisive steps to solidify its progress in combating tuberculosis (TB), which continues to pose a threat to public health globally. A technical advisory team from WHO/Europe visited Ashgabat on 24–28 February 2025. Led by Dr Askar Yedilbayev, WHO/Europe Regional Advisor for TB/Drug Resistant-TB, and WHO/Europe expert Dr Mikhail Volik, the team focused on presenting the results of the review of the National TB Control Programme (NTP) for 2021–2025 and laid the groundwork for a new National Strategic Plan (NSP) of Turkmenistan on TB Control for 2026–2030. The NTP review was conducted in 2024 by a team of experts from WHO/Europe.
“A comprehensive review of Turkmenistan’s National TB Control Programme, conducted at the request of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, has made it possible to assess progress towards achieving national goals that align with regional targets for reducing the burden of TB. The results of the review will form the basis for the development of the National Strategic Plan of Turkmenistan on TB Control for 2026–2030, which will define key directions and new targets for 2030,” said Dr Yedilbayev.
TB-Free Central Asia
The WHO Country Office in Turkmenistan presented the findings of the NTP review. During the meeting, Dr Yedilbayev highlighted the goals and priority areas for a new NSP for 2026–2030 and emphasized the country’s commitment to the initiative, TB-Free Central Asia, led by Dr Hans Henri P Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
This session brought together representatives from the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, State Medical University of Turkmenistan (named after Myrat Garryev), Directorate of Infectious Disease Centers, medical institutions from Ashgabat and the region of Ahal, the National Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan and the government’s Country Coordinating Committee of Turkmenistan, as well as mission members and United Nations agencies.
A central component of the WHO/Europe team visit was a meeting with the Minister of Health of Turkmenistan, Dr Myrat Mammedov. The discussions were led by Dr Egor Zaitsev, WHO Representative in Turkmenistan, Dr Askar Yedilbayev, and Dr Leyli Shamuradova, Technical Officer for Infectious Diseases, WHO Country Office in Turkmenistan.
Moving forwards
The meeting explored opportunities for Turkmenistan to share its best practices in TB control with other countries in the WHO European Region, contributing to the global goal of ending the TB epidemic by 2030.
Further, the mission team, together with the representatives of the NTP, assessed progress made under the current plan (2021–2025). Discussions centred on defining key strategic directions and activities as well as targets for 2026–2030. A preliminary assessment of financing and technical support needs was also conducted, paving the way for the development of a draft action plan for the NTP.
The primary goal of the WHO/Europe mission was to strengthen Turkmenistan’s capacity in the fight against TB at the country level. WHO and the Government of Turkmenistan will continue to work hand in hand to contribute to reducing the burden of TB in the Region.