A multidisciplinary team of WHO experts completed a week-long mission to Turkmenistan that took place on 13–20 November 2021. The team worked with governmental authorities on ways to fortify their health system preparedness, particularly in light of the global pandemic emergency.
Dr Dorit Nitzan, Regional Emergency Director for WHO/Europe, led the mission. She commented, “During our visit, we were keen to highlight the evolving nature of the pandemic throughout the WHO European Region due to the spread of the Delta variant. We also drew attention to the emergence of new variants and the spread seen globally, even in countries with high vaccination coverage.”
Focus on key areas of health system strengthening
The mission was decided during a visit to the country in October by Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. The priorities identified in discussion with the Minister of Health and Medical Industry and the Minister of Foreign Affairs included health diplomacy, emergency preparedness, epidemiology and surveillance capacity, digitalization and innovation, and regional health initiatives such as the development of a health roadmap for central Asian countries.
The team combined its expertise in emergency preparedness and response, noncommunicable diseases, the environment and the One Health approach, epidemiology and surveillance, health data and information systems, and digital health and innovation. Working together with Turkmen experts, they made recommendations based on sound data, scientific evidence and the experience of other countries in the Region.
Timely COVID-19 detection at the core of effective response
An important highlight of the mission was discussing with teams from the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection ways to strengthen subregional capacities in bacteriology and virology based on One Health principles. The mission looked at how capacities for genetic sequencing of viruses could be set up to help with the detection of COVID-19.
Speaking at the end of their visit, Dr Nitzan noted, “The mission has highlighted the need to strengthen efforts to detect COVID-19. Reporting cases in a timely manner is a must, as it enables the activation of additional arms of the response: contact tracing, quarantine, provision of adequate care and appropriate case management, tailoring of measures to the epidemiological situation, and surveillance and testing. All require community engagement and are rooted in transparency.”
WHO experts also had the opportunity to visit several medical facilities to provide advice in other areas, including noncommunicable diseases, tobacco control and health information systems.
