Today, the Ministry of foreign Affairs held a briefing on "Implementation of international initiatives of Turkmenistan in the field of health". The event was attended by heads of the foreign Ministry, the Ministry of health and medical industry and other institutions of Turkmenistan, heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in the country, representatives of local media and correspondents of foreign information resources working here.
The meeting was also attended by ambassadors accredited to Turkmenistan with residence in third countries via videoconference. Thus, the capitals of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, Tashkent and Turkey joined the briefing. In addition, about 30 journalists from 18 countries registered online, which significantly expanded the audience and geography of listeners.
This is the third thematic briefing on the efforts being made in our country to improve the national health system in General, and, in particular, to prevent the import and spread of coronavirus infection in Turkmenistan. One of the main purposes of this platform is to promote international initiatives of our country in the field of human health protection, the state news Agency of Turkmenistan reports.
At the current meeting, the attention of its participants was drawn to a number of very important areas of activity in the fight against infectious diseases and strengthening the scientific and medical Foundation of multilateral cooperation.
In particular, Turkmenistan supported the Resolution "Response to COVID-19" adopted at the end of the world Assembly, which unanimously approved the principle of universal, timely, equal, free and fair access to effective medicines and technologies, to methods of treatment and prevention of dangerous diseases, and the elimination of unfair barriers to such access.
This principle is fundamental for the development of partnership in the fight against the pandemic, in the implementation of comprehensive measures at the national, regional and global levels, and in the implementation of relevant initiatives.
The Turkmen side supports the key leadership role of the world health organization in preparing and coordinating the global response to the pandemic, as highlighted in the Resolution. We also share the call for strengthening the capacity of who and its sustainable funding, as well as evaluating, with who coordination, the extent of the international community's response to the spread of the disease, the briefing noted.
As reported at the briefing, today at a regular meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov approved A plan to ensure readiness to counteract and respond to acute infectious diseases in Turkmenistan and its implementation has started in practice. In this regard, the Turkmen side expressed gratitude to all partners for the work done and hopes for their active participation in the practical implementation of the Plan.
The briefing also noted that Turkmenistan has great respect for the experience of other countries that have already established a solid base in the fight against the new threat and share valuable experience in overcoming the negative consequences of the pandemic. Our country is also ready to share its successful experience in order to maximize the effectiveness of joint efforts with other States and international organizations.
This experience was described in a written message from President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov to the head of who, which was distributed as an official document of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly. Copies of this document were also made available to the briefing participants.
A key element of efforts to combat the pandemic is to strengthen the appropriate material and technical base, without which it is impossible to expect success in the implementation of any, even perfectly designed plans and programs.
Aware of the importance of this factor, Turkmenistan is actively working to establish quarantine centers. If necessary, all such objects that are being built can be activated offline. At the same time, the activities of existing quarantine centers are being improved, since there is a clear understanding that each country should be actively engaged in this work, regardless of the presence of an infectious disease or its phase of development.
A separate topical area is the development of new forms of international scientific cooperation in the field of medicine, the exchange of medical science achievements. This is also the goal of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's initiative to create a Council of medical scientists, put forward at the video summit of the non-Aligned Movement in early may.
In this regard, the Turkmen initiative sounds in unison with the agreements reached at the world health Assembly, implying a regular, systematic and open exchange of experience, knowledge and information on methods of treatment and prevention of the disease, medical drugs and equipment, and personal protective equipment.
Turkmenistan, guided by this principle, has already started working together and exchanging experience with representatives of the medical communities of Israel, the Republic of Korea, and Japan. A number of videoconferences are planned to be held by the end of may and throughout June to discuss topical issues of cooperation in the field of medicine and healthcare.
In addition to bilateral exchanges, our country is actively working with the who headquarters, its regional office in Copenhagen and its representative office in Ashgabat. There are three main directions of international scientific and medical cooperation proposed by the Turkmen side: cooperation in the field of virus etiology, determining the nature of its origin; studying the forms of manifestation of diseases caused by a new type of infection; joint search for methods and means to combat these diseases.
Detailed information about measures taken in Turkmenistan to respond to COVID-19 was also provided at the briefing. This activity is coordinated by the government anti-epidemic Commission established on behalf of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, which includes all ministries and departments of the country. The Ministry of health and medical industry has an established interagency operational Headquarters for COVID-19. Similar structures are in place at the regional level.
As noted, since the beginning of the development of a situation that may pose a threat to health in Turkmenistan, sanitary and quarantine supervision has been strengthened at the country's entry points, remote monitoring of the body temperature of all who cross the border, as well as strict control over those who leave and enter from abroad.
As you know, in the framework of combating the importation of infection into the country suspended international flights for citizens, restrictions on the entry and exit of certain types of transport including ground, river and sea. Currently, only cargo transport is carried out at the entry points.
Persons accompanying cargo, goods on road, sea and railway transport, when crossing the state border, must be placed on observation mode for 14 days with a survey on COVID-19.
Special facilities for disinfection of road and rail transport have been built and put into operation at the existing entry points. If necessary, phyto sanitary fumigation of plant-based cargo is carried out.
As part of the Interdepartmental action plan to prevent the import and spread of COVID-19, a number of legislative documents have been revised and adopted, as well as additions and changes to regulatory and methodological documents related to the issues of epidemiological surveillance, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases.
In addition, a full comprehensive assessment of the work and readiness of all medical institutions in the country, the availability of medicines and other medical products was carried out. A reserve of necessary medicines, disinfectants, personal protective equipment, etc. has been created. Regular practical classes are held on the correct use of personal protective equipment and compliance with hygiene measures by employees of medical institutions and specialists of entry points.
The Virology laboratory of the Center for public health and nutrition, which has the status of A national influenza center recognized by who, and six designated velayat laboratories are equipped with sufficient test systems for diagnostic testing on COVID-19. All specialists of the above-mentioned laboratories have received appropriate training.
At the same time, measures for state sanitary supervision of various economic facilities have been strengthened, including increased laboratory research of environmental objects, drinking water, food, air, soil, etc. Large-scale work on preventive disinfection and decontamination has been carried out in all organizations and institutions, in educational institutions, in public places, in retail outlets, markets, vehicles, at the border and in localities.
Currently, awareness-raising activities are being systematically carried out among the population, in educational institutions, in military units, at industrial enterprises to reduce the risks of infection with acute respiratory infections, to comply with the recommended rules of sanitary behavior and personal hygiene, and to lead a healthy lifestyle. This topic is regularly reflected in the media. There is a telephone hotline where you can get information and answers to questions of concern to the population.
It was also noted at the briefing that, with the coordination of the who regional office for Europe, the organization's country Office in Turkmenistan supports the provision of information materials, recommendations, the development of national guidelines on measures to counter and contain the risks of possible importation of cases of new coronavirus infection, and training courses.
Turkmenistan, as stated at the briefing, will continue to implement comprehensive preventive measures to counter COVID-19, taking into account the situation in the region and the world, maintaining the status of preventing the import of this virus into the country.
Representatives of international organizations, including the head of the OSCE Center in Ashgabat, Natalia Drozd, and the head of the world health organization country office, Paulina Karvovska, also spoke at the event. They expressed their gratitude to the head of Turkmenistan, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, for organizing such informative briefings and actively developing cooperation, including online and video communication.
It was also noted that, despite the current difficult situation in the world, Turkmenistan, thanks to timely systematic measures taken by the Government of the country, did not allow dangerous infection to enter its territory.
