ASHGABAT (TCA) — The high-level European conference “Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases” was held in Turkmenistan’s capital Ashgabat this week under the World Health Organization (WHO) aegis, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan reported.
The forum, organized by the Government of Turkmenistan and the WHO Regional Office for Europe in Ashgabat, brought together foreign specialists, high-ranking experts, heads of medical and scientific institutions of the countries in the WHO European Region.
During the meeting, the World Health Organization awarded Turkmenistan with a certificate for the outstanding contribution to the prevention of noncommunicable diseases. In this regard, it was underlined the key role of President of Turkmenistan, Academician of the Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Medicine, Honorary Professor of a number of foreign scientific and educational centers Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov in bringing the Turkmen health care system up to the new, innovative level.
The WHO Director General has the practice of issuing Certificates to countries as a sign of appreciation of the achievements in certain areas of health care system. Such award has been presented to Turkmenistan in recognition of the country’s leadership in the prevention of non-communicable diseases and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.
Turkmenistan takes a very serious approach to the prevention of NCDs and has made significant progress in several areas, including alcohol and tobacco control. A number of decisive policy measures taken in the country, including the ban on direct and indirect advertising of alcohol products and imposition of taxes on alcohol products, have resulted in the significant reduction in alcohol consumption in the country.
In 2013, Turkmenistan adopted one of the most comprehensive laws on tobacco control. The implementation of tobacco control measures provided for in the Law has reduced the prevalence of smoking among adults by more than twice since 2013 (only 3.4% of the population smoked in 2018), which is the lowest rate among the countries in the region.
Turkmenistan has set a goal of becoming a tobacco free country by 2025.
During the high-level conference, WHO representatives affirmed that the World Health Organization welcomed the efforts made by Turkmenistan. The rapid progress achieved in tobacco and alcohol control testifies to Turkmenistan’s continued commitment to the prevention of non-communicable diseases and stands as an example to follow and continue mutually beneficial cooperation, they said.
