The state information agency TDH reported that on 8 October, 2021 President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov met with the WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge.
The head of state reminded that since the first information on the novel virus was available, the government of Turkmenistan has promptly responded to the imminent threat and undertaken efficient prevention measures.
With the participation of the WHO country office the COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Action Plan was developed and the Emergency Disease Prevention and Control Commission was set up.
The head of state spoke about a two-stage medical control procedure for residents.The first stage envisages a PCR test taken by Turkmen nationals returning from abroad who subsequently need to quarantine in the specially designated facility in the cities of Garabogaz, Turkmenbashi and Turkmenabat.
At the second stage patients discharged from inpatient medical facilities need to self-isolate at home under supervision of a family practitioner.
“In order to accommodate individuals with COVID-19 symptoms, new quarantine facilities are being built and some healthcare institutions have been converted for COVID-19 needs.
The required medications are being purchased and the large-scale vaccination campaign is underway with various vaccines, including Russian “Sputnik V” being administered, – the President added.It was emphasized at the meeting that “to date over 70% of Turkmenistan’s population has been vaccinated”.
Berdymukhammedov and Kluge did not mention why Turkmen doctors are unable to reliably ascertain whether people with COVID-19 symptoms are diagnosed with coronavirus.
Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov once again reminded that COVID-19 did not penetrate into Turkmenistan. According to TDH, the WHO Regional Director for Europe expressed gratitude to the President “for making a considerable contribution in combating the spread of coronavirus”.
During the meeting there was a vase with dried harmel twigs which are used in Turkmenistan to disinfect premises and as a prevention measure against COVID-19.
In his Twitter account Hans Kluge said that he had “a fruitful meeting with the President of Turkmenistan”, where they discussed:
Leadership on non-communicable diseases;
pandemic preparation and response under the International Health Regulations (IHR);
regional health initiatives;
humanitarian help to Afghanistan;
that WHO mission to Turkmenistan will operationalize commitments on IHR & other aspects.
I had an open fruitful meeting with HE President TKM We discussed:Leadership on NCDsPandemic prep &response under IHR Regional health initiatives & CAR health roadmapHumanitarian helpthat WHO mission to will operationalize commitments on IHR & other aspects pic.twitter.com/woicB392e1
— Hans Kluge (@hans_kluge) October 8, 2021
On 7 October, 2021 a meeting between Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov and Hans Kluge was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Turkmen side familiarized Kluge “with key initiatives and proposals put forward by the President of Turkmenistan on various international healthcare platforms”, the Foreign Ministry reports.
It is emphasized that “the main prerequisite for success in combating the global threat is uniting all member states and institutions of the UN, including politicization”.
In his Twitter account Hans Kluge said that the following issued were on the agenda at the meeting with the Minister:
compliance of all countries with IHR;
joint initiative on global health diplomacy;
humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan
Met with Turkmenistan Minister of Foreign Affairs/ Chair of Cabinet of Ministers Mr Meredov this week:All countries to comply with #IHRJoint initiative on global health diplomacyHumanitarian assistance to Afghanistan#UnitedActionForBetterHealth pic.twitter.com/E1837Zm4lI
— Hans Kluge (@hans_kluge) October 9, 2021
It is unknown whether the follow-up visit of the WHO mission to Turkmenistan to perform independent COVID-testing was raised.
The WHO official arrived in Turkmenistan to take part in international forum on scientific health diplomacy.
On 8 October, 2021 President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov addressed the conference participants.
He said that “the development of a special WHO-led COVID-19 genome study program will allow uniting efforts of scientists from all over the world and identifying the reasons for new variants of coronavirus”.
In this connection a proposal was put forward to set up a regional method of the WHO European Office in combating pneumonia.
On 21 September, 2021 Turkmen human rights organizations sent an open letter to WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge with a request to comment on the epidemiologic situation in Turkmenistan as well as to call on the authorities of Turkmenistan to hand over biological samples of patients with COVID-19 symptoms for independent testing.
The appeal remained unanswered.The post At the meeting with the WHO Regional Director Berdymukhammedov claims there are people with COVID-19 symptoms in COVID free Turkmenistan first appeared on Chronicles of Turkmenistan.