UN, Government discuss progress in implementation of preparedness and response plan of Turkmenistan to acute infectious disease

The meeting brought together representatives of the national ministries and departments, the UN Agencies and Development partners accredited in Turkmenistan and provided an opportunity to review the process of CPRP implementation for better monitoring and coordination of joint efforts.

In her welcoming speech Ms. Elena Panova, UN Resident Coordinator stressed:

“The great amount of joint work done within the implementation of the Plan serves as an evidence of the high commitment of both the UN system and other partners to develop cooperation with Turkmenistan in the fight against the invisible common threat”.

In the course of the meeting, the national and international partners reported on the activities completed and the plans for the future. They have also shared the progress in implementation of the financial commitments under the Plan. Currently, procurement of supplies for the implementation of the Plan has exceeded 28.5 million USD including deliveries by UN, Government and other development partners.

The participants underlined the importance of strengthening cooperation between various parties for a more effective implementation of the National Plan at the times of pandemic.

“Given the increasing spread of the pandemic in the world and the associated risks of a second wave, I believe that even more efforts remain to be done to prevent its spread in Turkmenistan: - stated Ms. Panova during the meeting.

The CPRP was approved by the Decree of the President of Turkmenistan on 22 May 2020. It was prepared in response to the call of the UN Secretary General to develop coordinated actions at the country and global levels to counter coronavirus infection within the framework of uniform standards for such plans.

The plan defines the emergency response goals, strategies and actions, and also describes the response structure and distribution of responsibilities that will ensure the coordination and effectiveness of emergency actions. The plan also identifies measures to combat COVID-19 as a result of the country capacity and preparedness assessment.

The meeting participants agreed to hold another CPRP review meeting towards the end of the year to discuss joint approaches to the implementation of the National Plan in 2021.