NEWS
OBJECTIVES OF INCREASING NATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM’S POTENTIAL DISCUSSED
Under the careful guidance of the nation’s leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, massive efforts are being made in our country to protect the nation’s health, prevent and eradicate infectious diseases, promote sanitary and epidemiological welfare, and develop the health and medical care system.
Turkmenistan has become the first country in Central Asia to officially register the Sputnik V vaccine developed by the Gamaleya Research Center with the assistance of the Russian Direct Investment Fund. The country’s Ministry of Health and Medical Industry has issued a registration certificate for the vaccine.
On January 19, the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry held a meeting to mark the occasion. As highlighted during the meeting, thanks to the open door policy pursued by the President of Turkmenistan, our country has been cementing closer relations with its partner countries such as Russia, the USA, Germany, Austria, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Turkey, Belarus, among others.
Medical diplomacy, as the nation’s leader Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov notes, has taken on a particular significance aiming to boost fruitful international cooperation in this important area.
Working closely with the WHO and other UN specialized agencies, Turkmenistan has gained a wealth of experience in this field, in particular in fostering practical contacts among healthcare professionals, developing efficient ways to tackle health protection issues, and promoting scientific and information exchanges to facilitate dangerous disease prevention and control. As noted during the meeting, Turkmenistan has been implementing effective preventive measures for infectious diseases, such as social distancing, face mask wearing, the use of personal hygiene products, and so on.
On instructions from President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, medicines and healthcare products have been purchased to keep people well supplied with everything necessary.
Along with that, people who are at high risk have been vaccinated against flu, and this work is still underway. Production capacities have been established to manufacture protective masks, safety products, disinfectants, and protective clothing for doctors and healthcare staff.
On behalf of the country’s healthcare workers, the meeting participants expressed their sincere gratitude to the head of state for his care and attention to improving and upgrading the sector’s facilities, having assured the nation’s leader that they would make every effort to tackle the objectives set in the field of immunization and vaccination.
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On January 19, the International Training Center of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry hosted an online working meeting with the participation of Head of the Center for Infectious Disease Research at the Essen University Hospital (the Federative Republic of Germany) Adalbert Krawczyk and Turkmen specialists of the Türkmendermansenagat Association, the Academy of Sciences, and other field-specific healthcare facilities.
The meeting focused on key issues of cooperation in infectious disease treatment, and the medicinal use of licorice roots and glycyrrhizic acid extracted from them.
The participants offered positive assessments of the current epidemiological situation in Turkmenistan and discussed the implementation progress of recommendations given by WHO experts.
As noted, the large-scale awareness-raising activities ongoing in the country have contributed to enhancing people’s knowledge and skills in disease prevention. The encyclopedic work “Medicinal Plants of Turkmenistan” authored by President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov recommends drinking healthy herbal teas, decoctions and infusions made from yüzärlik (Peganum Harmala), camel’s thorn, juniper, dog rose, capsicum, and other medicinal plants to prevent various diseases and boost natural immunity.
We have inherited many effective uses of herbs from our wise ancestors as remedies for all sorts of illnesses, the head of state notes. Not only has modern medicine proved their medicinal value, but it has also been studying their efficacy.
As emphasized in this context, licorice roots have been used both in scientific and folk medicine since time immemorial to treat cough, kidney disease, upper respiratory tract infections and duodenal disease.
Based on traditional medicine practices and modern-day requirements, the production of licorice products has been established.
Licorice has been proven to have positive effects on the immune system. The medicinal properties of the Turkmen licorice significantly differ from those of other species since our climate creates the perfect environment and conditions for the plant to accumulate substances that have positive health effects.
It was also noted during the meeting that unlike chemical medicines, herbal products are easily digested by the human body and have no side effects.
As highlighted in this context, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov has specified new objectives for the pharmaceutical industry to ensure adequate supply of medicines for the population and increase the effectiveness of the ongoing efforts aimed at the prevention and control of infectious and non-infectious diseases.
The meeting also considered issues of stepping up bilateral cooperation in science diplomacy and ensuring regular exchange of opinions between medical scientists, experts and specialists.