In Defense of Public Health

As is well known, in 2016, with the blessing of the Hero Arkadag, the Public Health and Nutrition Center was opened and put into operation. This center has created wide opportunities for the specialists of the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Service to improve sanitary-epidemiological control and to strengthen the prevention of infectious diseases among the population.

The center actively utilizes the achievements of modern healthcare systems and serves our people as a scientific research, practical-methodological, analytical, and laboratory base for the relevant state service.

Preventive Measures Against Infectious Diseases

Extensive measures are being taken in our country to protect the population from infectious diseases, ensure sanitation, combat the spread of diseases, and carry out immunoprophylaxis. These efforts are implemented using vaccines certified by the World Health Organization (WHO). Vaccinations are provided free of charge by the government.

Currently, preventive vaccinations are carried out against 14 infectious diseases. Thanks to regular immunizations for both children and adults, timely preventive measures, and active public participation, the incidence of infectious diseases has significantly decreased.

International Cooperation and Achievements

As part of mutually beneficial cooperation with international organizations, the virology department of the Center’s reference laboratory was recognized as the National Influenza Center by the WHO in September 2019, and it was granted the authority to carry out the relevant responsibilities.

The center has maintained this status due to its consistent monitoring and laboratory activities in 2021. The department conducts tests on samples sent by the WHO to detect diseases like measles and rubella. The results confirm the high professional level of the laboratory staff.

In addition, the Center continues its cooperation with the WHO European Regional Office in the following areas:

• Studying the nature and characteristics of infectious diseases and advancing genomic medicine;
• Sending specialists abroad;
• Hosting foreign experts for practical experience exchanges;
• Conducting training seminars;
• Preventing infectious diseases;
• Developing digital systems.

Food Safety and International Accreditation

In 2020, the Center’s food product testing laboratories began conducting:

• Bacteriological analyses;
• Molecular-genetic testing;
• Immunoassay diagnostics.

These laboratories were accredited by the "Latvian National Accreditation Bureau" in accordance with the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 international standard and received official accreditation certificates.

Also, with the support of the WHO and within the "FEEDcities" project, the Center conducted its first laboratory analyses to determine trans fats and salt content in food products.

Since 2019, the Department of Food Hygiene of the Myrat Garryyev State Medical University of Turkmenistan has been operating within the Center. This enables students to receive training and practical experience in internationally accredited food laboratories.

Elimination of Infectious Diseases and International Recognition

There are international certificates confirming the elimination of several infectious diseases in Turkmenistan. This demonstrates the high level of expertise of our healthcare professionals in disease prevention. The recommendation for this experience to be used in WHO’s European Region reflects the significance of these achievements.

Leadership in Quality Management

In 2024, it was confirmed that the laboratory work at the Public Health and Nutrition Center complies with the TDS ISO 9001 quality management standards. It was officially recognized that laboratory inspections are conducted at a high level and that the quality indicators meet the strict requirements of the healthcare sector.

The fact that the Public Health and Nutrition Center operates in accordance with international standards is clear evidence of the successful implementation of the “Health” State Program, which was initiated under the leadership of the Hero Arkadag and continues effectively under the leadership of the esteemed President.