An intensive online course in spoken English has been organized for medical students in Turkmenistan, initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in Turkmenistan in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan and the Myrat Garryev State Medical University with the support of UN Volunteers.

The course is part of the wider Youth4Health initiative launched by WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Hans Kluge, according to a WHO press release.

The programme brings together young and active people from Europe and Central Asia who are committed to advancing health, well-being and equality in their communities. The course participants from Turkmenistan are already active members of this network and are engaged in advocacy in the areas of health and leadership.

“This is especially important for me, as learning languages has always been difficult, especially after I focused on medical subjects rather than humanities,” said Yaylymova Jahan, one of the course participants.

The main objective of the course was to develop communication skills in English, a key tool for participating in international dialogue in the field of healthcare. The program was adapted to the needs of future medical professionals, with an emphasis on medical terminology, communication with patients, and participation in academic discussions.

Nazik Atayeva added: “I learned a lot of new things and felt even more motivated to grow personally and professionally. I really want to participate in similar programs in the future and hope that such opportunities for learning and communication will appear more often.”

This initiative also reflects WHO’s ongoing commitment to supporting young people and developing their potential in Turkmenistan.

“The students were incredible. Prepared, open, enthusiastic and full of light, they made every session come alive. Working with them was an experience every teacher dreams of,” said Alexander Dmitriev, a UN volunteer who taught the English course.