WHO Regional Director for Europe dr. Hans Kluge arrived in Ashgabat to participate in the High-Level Dialogue on Health Diplomacy (February 16–18) and praised Turkmenistan's influential role on the international stage, Turkmenportal.com reports.
During his visit, Dr. Kluge presented President Serdar Berdimuhamedov with a special WHO award "For contribution to the promotion of peace, unity, and diplomacy in healthcare." The WHO chief highlighted the significance of the visit, noting that in 2026, Turkmenistan chairs the CIS, which has been declared the "Year of Health Protection."
2026 Cooperation Priorities:
- Oncology: WHO will provide support in training staff for the new oncology center opening this year.
- Primary Healthcare: Expansion of training programs for family physicians and the implementation of early diagnostic technologies.
- Ecology: Joint initiatives focused on the environmental and health restoration of the Caspian and Aral Sea zones amid climate change.
- Infection Control: Turkmenistan is recognized as a leader in the "Central Asia Free of Tuberculosis" initiative.
Dr. Kluge noted that Turkmenistan’s philosophy of neutrality aligns perfectly with WHO principles. "There is no peace without health, and no health without peace," he stated, emphasizing that Ashgabat has been a recognized center for medical diplomacy for 30 years. To reinforce this, the first Russian-language course on global health diplomacy for 10 countries in the region was launched in Ashgabat.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
February 17, 2026