Children’s Health in the focus of 2021 International Day for Child Protection in Turkmenistan

The high-level unprecedented visit emphasized the importance of child health and wellbeing in the national agenda involving the highest leadership of the country and UNICEF.

The visit to the Early Intervention Department, the first such institution in Turkmenistan, was an opportunity to hear directly about the support services for children with developmental delays and disabilities and their families.  The work of the department focuses both on the early detection of developmental delays as well as on the provision of early intervention programs to children and their families, thereby helping children to achieve their best potential.

In the conference following the visit, President Berdimuhammedov highlighted Turkmenistan’s commitment to children’s rights and to the wellbeing of the younger generation. The representatives of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry as well as relevant ministries and public organizations of Turkmenistan also participated in this event.

“The Right to Health is one of the essential rights outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Child health and well-being have been at the core of UNICEF work in Turkmenistan. Since the early days of independence, since 1994, we work with the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan in this important area and I am pleased to highlight a number of achievements that set Turkmenistan apart in the region” said Ms. Christine Weigand, UNICEF Representative, highlighting on advancements in immunization, exclusive breastfeeding and nutrition, early childhood development and early intervention, “UNICEF in Turkmenistan stands ready to support the Government in ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive and develop and that no child is left behind.”

The Minister of Health and Medical Industry as well as the Minister of Education presented the priority areas of intervention in the respective sectors. Concluding the event, President Berdimuhammedov announced a number of new initiatives to further promote the wellbeing of children. He thanked the UNICEF Representative for the joint efforts and for the close cooperation with the UNICEF team, referring to the twelve workplans signed with national partners this year as part of the new five-year country program of cooperation between UNICEF and Turkmenistan.

UNICEF Representative later joined the Minister of Health, the Minister of Education and the representative of the newly established Charitable Foundation for the Provision of Assistance to Children in Need of Guardianship named after the President as well as other national partners in a ceremony dedicated to the International Day for Child Protection at the Rehabilitation Teaching and Educational Complex handing out presents from the President and congratulating children of the centre on this occasion.