WHO and Turkmenistan Collaborate on National TB Control Strategy

Turkmenistan is advancing its tuberculosis control initiatives with WHO support, reviewing its National TB Control Programme and developing a new National Strategic Plan for 2026–2030. The discussions highlight the nation’s commitment to achieving TB reduction goals outlined by WHO and collaborating with other countries in the region. The ongoing partnership aims to enhance the country’s capacity in combating TB effectively.

Turkmenistan is implementing significant measures to enhance its efforts in tuberculosis (TB) control, which remains a critical public health challenge worldwide. A technical advisory team from WHO/Europe visited Turkmenistan from February 24 to February 28, 2025, with the objective of reviewing the National TB Control Programme (NTP) for 2021–2025 and establishing a new National Strategic Plan (NSP) for TB Control for 2026–2030. This review was carried out in 2024 by a team of experts.

The WHO/Europe team, led by Dr. Askar Yedilbayev, emphasized the importance of the assessment conducted at the behest of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry. This evaluation has provided insights into Turkmenistan’s advancement towards achieving national and regional TB reduction targets. Dr. Yedilbayev stated, “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.”

During the review’s findings presentation, Dr. Yedilbayev outlined the NSP’s goals and priority areas for the upcoming five-year period, underscoring Turkmenistan’s commitment to the initiative, TB-Free Central Asia, spearheaded by Dr. Hans Henri P Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. Various stakeholders participated in this consultative meeting, including representatives from the Ministry of Health, State Medical University, and other relevant institutions.

A crucial aspect of the WHO mission was a dialogue with Dr. Myrat Mammedov, the Minister of Health of Turkmenistan. The discussions, led by WHO officials, focused on potential avenues for Turkmenistan to disseminate its best practices in TB control across the WHO European Region, which aims to eradicate the TB epidemic worldwide by 2030.

The delegation additionally evaluated the progress accomplished under the current NTP and deliberated on the strategic directions and target-setting for the forthcoming years. Preliminary assessments regarding financial and technical support requirements were executed, which are critical for drafting an actionable plan for the National TB Control Programme. The primary aim of this mission is to bolster Turkmenistan’s overall capability in combating TB, with WHO and the Government of Turkmenistan collaborating closely to mitigate the TB burden regionally.

Turkmenistan is making commendable strides in the fight against tuberculosis, guided by support from WHO/Europe. The recent meeting and review have set the stage for a comprehensive National Strategic Plan that will lead efforts towards achieving TB reduction by 2030. With ongoing collaboration and shared expertise, the country is poised to contribute significantly to global health goals in combating TB.

Original Source: www.who.int