Turkmenistan and WHO Collaborate on New National Strategic Plan for TB Control
On March 14, 2025, Turkmenistan progressed in its tuberculosis control efforts, guided by a WHO advisory team. The evaluation of the National TB Control Programme for 2021–2025 has informed a new strategic plan for 2026–2030. Key discussions included strengthening regional TB initiatives and establishing collaborative practices to meet TB elimination goals by 2030.
On March 14, 2025, Turkmenistan announced strides in its tuberculosis (TB) control efforts. A technical advisory team from WHO/Europe, led by Dr. Askar Yedilbayev and Dr. Mikhail Volik, visited Ashgabat from February 24-28, 2025. Their purpose was to review the National TB Control Programme (NTP) for 2021–2025 and to establish a new National Strategic Plan (NSP) for TB control from 2026 to 2030, building on a prior assessment conducted in 2024.
According to Dr. Yedilbayev, the comprehensive evaluation of Turkmenistan’s NTP was at the request of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry. He stated, “A comprehensive review of Turkmenistan’s National TB Control Programme, conducted at the request of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, has made it possible to assess progress towards achieving national goals that align with regional targets for reducing the burden of TB.” The outcomes of this review will be essential in framing the NSP, which will specify key objectives and benchmarks for the year 2030.
During the meeting in Ashgabat, Dr. Yedilbayev articulated the objectives and key areas of focus for the new NSP and reinforced Turkmenistan’s engagement in the TB-Free Central Asia initiative led by Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. The session gathered diverse stakeholders, including officials from the Ministry of Health, State Medical University of Turkmenistan, and various medical institutions, to foster collaborative efforts in TB management.
A significant focus of the WHO/Europe team’s visit was discussions with Minister of Health Dr. Myrat Mammedov, led by notable WHO representatives. These discussions aimed to explore ways Turkmenistan might share its effective TB control practices with other nations within the WHO European Region, thereby supporting the worldwide objective of eliminating the TB epidemic by 2030.
The mission also involved an evaluation of the achievements made under the existing NTP and sought to define strategic directions and define actionable targets for the next period. They conducted a preliminary assessment concerning financial and technical assistance needs which will guide the formulation of a draft action plan for the new NTP.
In conclusion, the collaboration between the WHO and Turkmenistan underscores a solid commitment to enhancing TB control strategies. The comprehensive review of the National TB Control Programme forms a foundation for a focused National Strategic Plan extending to 2030. Through shared knowledge and strategic collaboration, both the WHO and Turkmenistan aim to significantly mitigate the impact of tuberculosis in the region and contribute to global health goals.
Original Source: www.who.int
