Ashgabat, 20 October 2021: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkmenistan jointly with the World Bank (WB) and the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan (MHMIT) convened an online workshop to launch the new joint project on COVID-19 response funded by the WB.

The event gathered representatives of the Government of Turkmenistan, the UN Agencies and other international organizations accredited in the country and aimed at reviewing and discussing the key operational and financial aspects of project execution and setting up strategic directions for project realization during its first-year implementation period.

“UNDP stands ready to join forces with the World Bank, other UN Agencies and the Government of Turkmenistan to strengthen the national health care system of the country and reinforce its response and preparedness to the current and future pandemics” - said Narine Sahakyan, UNDP Resident Representative in Turkmenistan.

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The $20 million project “Turkmenistan COVID-19 Response” is funded by the World Bank and will be implemented by UNDP and the MHMIT to help the country respond and prepare for COVID19 pandemic focusing on strengthening the national testing and treatment capacities, upgrading the skills of medical workers, procuring of reagents, medicines and medical equipment, and addressing the related health and social risks. The project will support introduction of digital solutions for surveillance of infectious diseases.

The project contributes to the joint efforts of implementing the “Preparedness and Response Plan of Turkmenistan to Acute Infectious Disease” (CPRP), which identifies joined preventive and response measures to combat COVID-19.