The World Health Organisation held a high-level consultative forum on prevention of recurrence of malaria in the European region in the Yildyz Hotel in Ashgabat.
The forum brought together the representatives of the Headquarters, WHO Regional Office for Europe, partner organisations, specialists from the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan. Specialists of the UN agencies in Turkmenistan, the World Bank, the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat and Velayat departments of the State sanitary and epidemiological service as well as other ministries and departments participated in the forum.
The main goal of the meeting organized by the Government of Turkmenistan and WHO Regional Office for Europe in Ashgabat was to discuss a wide spectrum of issues on prevention of recurrence of malaria in the region, to share experience and define the important areas for the further consolidation of efforts to solve the set tasks.
In 2010, Turkmenistan was recognized as a malaria free country. This fact was officially confirmed by the WHO Certificate issued based on the results of a number of expert investigations conducted by this authoritative international organization. The recognition of Turkmenistan’s efforts vividly testified to the significant contribution of our country to the joint efforts of the world community in the struggle against the distribution of malaria, which was declared as one of the global problems of the modern world.
According to WHO experts, Turkmenistan that achieved significant results in elimination of malaria serves as an example for all Central Asian countries.
Realizing the importance of consolidating the efforts with the neighbouring countries in the struggle against this disease, Turkmenistan stands as initiator of close collaboration with its neighbours.
Undoubtedly, solution of malaria problems is an important work taken place in our country to improve people’s health, to reduce the risk of the disease and increase longevity.
Among the main goals of the Ashgabat forum were to recognize the achievements and share experience in implementation of programmes on malaria elimination in the region, to review the existing approaches to prevent recurrence of malaria and specify the problems arising while implementing these programmes as well as to define the further steps and strategy to keep the status of the malaria free country and region in general.
Speaking during the forum, Special Representative of the WHO Regional Director for Europe. Dr. Haik Nikogosian welcomed the forum participants on behalf of the World Health Organisation and expressed sincere gratitude to the President of Turkmenistan for the opportunity to hold the Consultative forum on prevention of recurrence of malaria in the European region and extended hospitality.
Those speaking during the plenary session noted that malaria elimination in the region was an important step in the history of public health in Europe and global efforts to eliminate malaria.
According to Dr. Leonard Ortega, the head of the Technical Support and Capacity Building at the WHO Global Malaria Programme, the meeting in Ashgabat that brought together representatives of state agencies, international organisations as well as experts and specialist gave the reason to solve the tasks on prevention of recurrence of malaria in the WHO European region.
The current situation on the struggle against and elimination of malaria in the world and WHO European region as well as the progress achieved and the role of scientific research in this process were considered during the meeting. It was underlined that the sustainable political commitment, intensive monitoring for timely testing and treatment of malaria cases as well as understanding the ways of malaria transmission and associated with it risks and the immediate actions to be taken in case of recurrence of malaria were required in order to achieve the goal.
The forum brought together the representatives of the Headquarters, WHO Regional Office for Europe, partner organisations, specialists from the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan. Specialists of the UN agencies in Turkmenistan, the World Bank, the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat and Velayat departments of the State sanitary and epidemiological service as well as other ministries and departments participated in the forum.
The main goal of the meeting organized by the Government of Turkmenistan and WHO Regional Office for Europe in Ashgabat was to discuss a wide spectrum of issues on prevention of recurrence of malaria in the region, to share experience and define the important areas for the further consolidation of efforts to solve the set tasks.
In 2010, Turkmenistan was recognized as a malaria free country. This fact was officially confirmed by the WHO Certificate issued based on the results of a number of expert investigations conducted by this authoritative international organization. The recognition of Turkmenistan’s efforts vividly testified to the significant contribution of our country to the joint efforts of the world community in the struggle against the distribution of malaria, which was declared as one of the global problems of the modern world.
According to WHO experts, Turkmenistan that achieved significant results in elimination of malaria serves as an example for all Central Asian countries.
Realizing the importance of consolidating the efforts with the neighbouring countries in the struggle against this disease, Turkmenistan stands as initiator of close collaboration with its neighbours.
Undoubtedly, solution of malaria problems is an important work taken place in our country to improve people’s health, to reduce the risk of the disease and increase longevity.
Among the main goals of the Ashgabat forum were to recognize the achievements and share experience in implementation of programmes on malaria elimination in the region, to review the existing approaches to prevent recurrence of malaria and specify the problems arising while implementing these programmes as well as to define the further steps and strategy to keep the status of the malaria free country and region in general.
Speaking during the forum, Special Representative of the WHO Regional Director for Europe. Dr. Haik Nikogosian welcomed the forum participants on behalf of the World Health Organisation and expressed sincere gratitude to the President of Turkmenistan for the opportunity to hold the Consultative forum on prevention of recurrence of malaria in the European region and extended hospitality.
Those speaking during the plenary session noted that malaria elimination in the region was an important step in the history of public health in Europe and global efforts to eliminate malaria.
According to Dr. Leonard Ortega, the head of the Technical Support and Capacity Building at the WHO Global Malaria Programme, the meeting in Ashgabat that brought together representatives of state agencies, international organisations as well as experts and specialist gave the reason to solve the tasks on prevention of recurrence of malaria in the WHO European region.
The current situation on the struggle against and elimination of malaria in the world and WHO European region as well as the progress achieved and the role of scientific research in this process were considered during the meeting. It was underlined that the sustainable political commitment, intensive monitoring for timely testing and treatment of malaria cases as well as understanding the ways of malaria transmission and associated with it risks and the immediate actions to be taken in case of recurrence of malaria were required in order to achieve the goal.
