OREANDA-NEWS. December 06, 2010. The launching ceremony of the project developed by the Government of Turkmenistan in partnership with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Fund to fight infectious diseases aimed at further strengthening the achievements of the national health system in TB diagnostics and treatment took place at the President Hotel in the Turkmen capital. The presentation brought together representatives of ministries and departments of our country, international organisations and diplomatic missions, public organisations, journalists and experts of the Global Fund Secretariat Ms. Maria Kirova and Mr. Nicholas Cantu, who made presentations on the Global Fund’s activities in the region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

As is known, consistently implementing President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's Health Programme, Turkmenistan has gained significant and recognized achievements in protecting the health of people that is evidenced convincingly by numerous assessments of the World Health Organization. The WHO certification of malaria eradication awarded to our country in late October this year and the previous certificates of this organization recognizing Turkmenistan as a country certified as free from dracunculosis and poliomyelitis, large-scale construction and opening of hospitals, clinics, sanatoria, rehabilitation and health improvement centres of national and international importance throughout the country and many other accomplishments testify to the high level achieved by our state in the health sector in the epoch of new Revival and great reforms.

Committed to the strategy for expanding cooperation with leading international organizations, including the UN Development Programme, the World Health Organization, Turkmenistan initiates close collaboration with its partners.

The fifteen-year experience of successful cooperation between Turkmenistan and UNDP, including prevention, diagnostics and treatment of infectious diseases, was the main themes of the reports made by international and national health experts at the ceremony.

Evaluating highly the progress made by Turkmenistan in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, in particular such as “combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases”, UNDP Resident Representative in Turkmenistan Mr. Lenni Montiel said that “the project goals and objectives go in line with the main focus of our work in Turkmenistan, namely supporting the fulfilment of the national development plans.”

Summing up the ceremony, the participants focused on the tremendous potential of Turkmenistan-UNDP cooperation and expressed the willingness to enhance further cooperation.