Turkmenistan continues to strengthen its national public health emergency preparedness and response system at points of entry into the country, the World Health Organization (WHO) country office in Turkmenistan reported.

A meeting on this issue was held in Ashgabat at the UN building between representatives of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan and the WHO country office. Representatives of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Service, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, and the State Customs, Migration, and Border Services took part in it.

According to the report, the participants discussed and finalized the draft National Action Plan for Public Health Emergencies at Points of Entry, as well as the progress in strengthening the relevant national response mechanisms. Particular attention was paid to the development of standard operating procedures for a coordinated response to such situations at the country's border.

The purpose of the meeting was to provide the Ministry of Health of Turkmenistan with advisory and technical support to build capacity at points of entry in accordance with the requirements of the International Health Regulations (IHR).

WHO experts from global and regional levels also participated in the meeting. According to the statement, Sara Barragan, a representative from WHO headquarters, outlined the key provisions of the IHR regarding entry points, while staff from the WHO Regional Office for Europe presented the WHO Agreement on Pandemics, highlighted their experience at entry points in the European Region, and presented a package of materials for conducting simulation exercises.

WHO noted that strengthening capacity at points of entry remains an important element of national preparedness for public health emergencies and reaffirmed its commitment to continue providing technical support to Turkmenistan in implementing the IHR.