Today, in the «Oguzhan» Presidential Palace Complex, in honour of the celebration of the Day of Health Workers and Medical Industry of the country, a ceremony was held to award the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov with the «Arkadag» medal.

The ceremony was attended by the Chairwoman of the country's Mejlis, Deputy Chairmen of the Cabinet of Ministers, as well as heads of military and law enforcement agencies.

The «Arkadag» medal is a state award of Turkmenistan and was established with the aim of broadly supporting humane initiatives, respect for achieved merits, accumulated experience, and the growing international authority of the Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Care named after Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, created on a voluntary basis in accordance with such principles of ancestors , national traditions of the Turkmens, such as justice, humanity, love of humanity, high morality, charity, helping those in need of care, with the priority of human interests, raising their dignity and rewarding citizens of our country who have achieved outstanding achievements in this direction.

The award is awarded to individuals who have made a worthy contribution to the successful implementation of the state’s humane social policy, the protection of social rights, health rights, legitimate interests of man and citizen, for merits in realizing the rights to dignified and full participation in the life of society and the state of persons in need of care, especially children, a great contribution to the development of the social sphere, the activities of public, humanitarian, charitable bodies, to protect public health, in particular, in the provision of medical, health and rehabilitation assistance, the development of the volunteer movement, in ensuring the interests of motherhood and childhood, protecting honor and dignity mother and child, formation of a friendly attitude towards children in society.

The first floor was given to the Chairwoman of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan D. Gulmanova, who read out the Resolution of the Mejlis on awarding the «Arkadag» medal to the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

As noted, in the era of the Revival of the new epoch of the powerful state, the humane principles and spiritual values of our people were reflected in the state policy of Arkadagly Hero Serdar, and the great undertakings of the National Leader of the Turkmen people Hero-Arkadag were filled with new content. Respect for good people, generosity and support for those in need of care become high principles in our independent neutral Turkmenistan.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov was awarded this high award for providing legal guarantees for the protection and legitimate interests of the people, implementing a set of organizational, legal and economic measures aimed at adapting children in society who need special care and social support, special merits in the development of charitable activities, implementation of the country of the principles of humanism, justice and mutual assistance, constant support for the activities of the Charitable Foundation for helping children in need of care named after Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, which embodies the noble principles of our ancestors.

Then, the Chairwoman of the Mejlis, D. Gulmanova, solemnly presented the Medal of Turkmenistan «Arkadag» to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

The head of state expressed heartfelt gratitude for the presentation of the high state award of Turkmenistan, noting that he considers this an assessment of charitable activities based on national traditions. Through the efforts of Hero-Arkadag, the Foundation carries out noble humanitarian activities. The country is building residential buildings for those especially in need, the head of state emphasized, assuring that the state and government, together with the Foundation, will continue this noble work.

Once again thanking for the presentation of the Turkmenistan «Arkadag» medal, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov sincerely congratulated everyone on the Day of Healthcare and Medical Industry Workers widely celebrated in the country, wishing them good health and a prosperous life.

Then Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs R. Meredov spoke.

The Vice-Premier, having cordially congratulated the head of state on being awarded the Arkadag medal, noted that one of the priorities of the domestic and foreign state policy initiated by the Hero-Arkadag and successfully continued by the President of Turkmenistan is its humanistic orientation. In this regard, it was noted that the head of state is doing a lot of work to provide social benefits to the country's citizens and create the most favourable living conditions.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of his comrades-in-arms, also sincerely congratulated the head of state on the Day of Healthcare Workers and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan.

During the celebration, the great importance of the holiday in the life of our state and society was noted. By adopting the State Program «Saglyk» in July 1995, a new health care system was created. A huge role in the formation of a long-term strategy for the development of national healthcare and achievements in this area belongs to the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, Hero-Arkadag Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, who oversaw the industry for many years and developed the scientific foundations of state policy in the field of healthcare.

The tasks of the phased implementation of this program determined the formation of a new Concept, which is based on comprehensive reforms in the sphere of domestic healthcare, which entailed the development of medical science, fundamental positive changes in the entire system, starting from the training of high-level specialists, general preventive measures to strengthen the health of the nation, its gene pool, increasing the life expectancy of people before radical modernization and expansion of the material and technical base, improving the quality of medical services, etc.

Ultra-modern medical centres have been built in Ashgabat and velayat centres, resulting in a wide range of medical institutions that meet the principles of the new healthcare model. Great attention is paid to the development of the health care system in the regions: in villages, at the etrap city levels, where new etrap hospitals and health centres were built, and existing ones were completely reconstructed.

As a result of the «open door» policy pursued by the President of Turkmenistan, friendly and fraternal ties with foreign countries are becoming increasingly stronger. Indisputable recognition of Turkmenistan’s success in the field of public health is the awarding of 14 international certificates.

During the celebration, the country's leadership, congratulating Arkadagly Hero Serdar on the high award, emphasized that the state policy pursued by Turkmenistan is based on the primordial humane principles of our people, spiritual values and positive attitude of society, as well as the wise life experience of our ancestors. In the era of the Revival of the new epoch of the powerful state, these noble traditions received a worthy continuation and new content. One of the priorities of the state policy, consistently pursued by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, is full care for the country’s young citizens, creating the necessary conditions for their well-being and harmonious development, improving health, and receiving a quality education.

Large-scale, effective work in this direction is being carried out by the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Care, created on the initiative of Hero-Arkadag.

Thanks to the noble deeds started by the National Leader of the Turkmen people and successfully continued under the leadership of Arkadagly Hero Serdar, a comprehensive system of social protection of the lives of the younger generation and restoration of the health of children in need of care has been created. This is clear evidence of the successful implementation of state policy in the field of protecting the health of the younger generation.

In this way, in the new historical epoch, the primordial humanistic principles of the Turkmen people find vivid expression in the humane policy of Arkadagly Hero Serdar, which was confirmed by the current presentation of the Turkmenistan «Arkadag» medal to the head of state.

Expressing gratitude for the congratulations, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov wished everyone success.