A conference focused on the issues elimination of malaria in the European region, in particular Central Asia Caucasus was held at the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan. The officials of the diplomatic missions accredited to Turkmenistan, international organisations working under the aegis of the United Nations and the Embassy of Japan in Turkmenistan. Regional Coordinator of WHO Euro for malaria control in the countries of Central Asia and Caucasus M. Yezhov had specially arrived in Ashgabat to take part in the conference.

Malaria remains one of the serious problems the modern world faces nowadays. The malaria elimination agenda is endorsed at the international level and a component of the Millennium Development Goals. In early 2006 the countries of the WHO European Region including Turkmenistan signed the Tashkent Declaration "The Move from Malaria Control to Elimination" and on its basis elaborated the regional strategy with the ultimate goal to interrupt the transmission of malaria by 2015 within the Region.

“Eliminating malaria is a priority task for the WHO Regional Office for Europe, and Turkmenistan in the country leading in the region where this task can be fulfilled much earlier,” Mikhail Yezhov noted in the welcoming statement. “On this occasion I would like to convey the congratulations to my Turkmen colleagues on behalf of Director of the WHO Regional Office for Europe Mark Danzon. For us Turkmenistan is a country, which leads in tackling this problem and whose experience can be of great use for the other countries. Here I should mention the state’s approach: all the ministries and departments are involved in this work. The special national programmes were elaborated and are successfully implemented; the interagency coordination committee was established. Today, Turkmenistan maintains the epidemiological welfare on its territory and takes strict control of the situation. Starting from 2006 no malaria cases has been reported in Turkmenistan. If we succeed in maintaining this welfare in 2008 we will raise the question of certifying Turkmenistan as a malaria-free country in 2009-2010. Though the large-scale work to achieve the goals is being carried out, the efforts of only Turkmenistan and WHO are not enough. Unfortunately, there are the prerequisites and numerous facts promoting malaria transmission from outside.”

The conference participants analyzed the impact of the national programmes and strategies implemented in the countries of the region, specified the problems demanding concerted global efforts and active intensification of collaboration at the intergovernmental level.