The meeting was organized by Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan with support of the World Health Organization Country Office in Turkmenistan. To participate in the meeting it was invited representatives of over forty ministries and branch ministries, members the Interagency Coordination Committee on implementation of the Ashgabat Declaration.
To remind, the Ashgabat Declaration was signed in December 2013 on the results of the work of WHO European Ministerial Conference on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs). This document defines the direction of development of health care in the field of prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases in the WHO European Region countries for the next decade, which, in the opinion of international experts, is a great contribution to Turkmenistan in implementing of policy regulations in the Context of “Health 2020”.
Moreover, in May 2014 it was adopted National Strategy for implementation of the Ashgabat Declaration on NCDs prevention and control in Turkmenistan for the period of 2014-2020 and its Action Plan. To successful implementation of the Strategy it was established National Coordination Committee which was consisted of 38 branch ministries.
However, the representatives of WHO pointed out that this work in Turkmenistan began much earlier than 1995, when was adopted the State Program "Health". It included following priorities: prevention diseases, promotion of healthy lifestyle and giving up bad habits. Today, as noted, it has gained great experiences in implementation of national health programs and was formed the Turkmen model, based on cross-sectoral collaboration. The international experts also emphasized that one of the important aspects of Turkmen health care system is a political will to improve health of the population. The priorities for noncommunicable diseases and risk factors and its development have been defined. The experience in implementation of health programs in Turkmenistan is recognized by World Health Organization as significant, and was recommended for use by other countries.
Special attention to the cross-sectoral approach in prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases underlined speakers, and representatives of Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan.
At the conference, the participants informed about the fact that non-communicable diseases, mainly cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are the leading cause of deaths worldwide. More than 36 million people die from NCDs (63% of deaths in the world) among of which 16 million people die before the age of 70 years. Experts predict that if current trends continue, by 2030 the epidemic of NCDs will annually take 52 million lives.
Adoption of Global WHO Action plan on NCDs prevention and control at the 66th session of the World Health Assembly was a turning point in controlling this significant problem in global health care. In 2011, heads of states and governments, including Turkmenistan, have committed to strengthen monitoring systems of epidemic control at the country level for NCDs and their risk factors and development of national goals and indicators as outlined in the UN Political Declaration on NCDs in 2011.
In addition, Turkmenistan is a leader in implementation of the Ashgabat Declaration. Strengthening of national information systems for the monitoring of NCD risk factors was considered as key risks. An additional goal in implementation of the National Strategy for Prevention and Control of NCDs is deal with creation of a national monitoring and evaluation systems.
Other topics were discussed at the conference such as promotion of healthy lifestyles, and importance of physical education and sports in prevention of noncommunicable diseases. Particular attention was paid to a balanced diet and introduction of new technologies with regard to production of healthy food.
To remind, the Ashgabat Declaration was signed in December 2013 on the results of the work of WHO European Ministerial Conference on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs). This document defines the direction of development of health care in the field of prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases in the WHO European Region countries for the next decade, which, in the opinion of international experts, is a great contribution to Turkmenistan in implementing of policy regulations in the Context of “Health 2020”.
Moreover, in May 2014 it was adopted National Strategy for implementation of the Ashgabat Declaration on NCDs prevention and control in Turkmenistan for the period of 2014-2020 and its Action Plan. To successful implementation of the Strategy it was established National Coordination Committee which was consisted of 38 branch ministries.
However, the representatives of WHO pointed out that this work in Turkmenistan began much earlier than 1995, when was adopted the State Program "Health". It included following priorities: prevention diseases, promotion of healthy lifestyle and giving up bad habits. Today, as noted, it has gained great experiences in implementation of national health programs and was formed the Turkmen model, based on cross-sectoral collaboration. The international experts also emphasized that one of the important aspects of Turkmen health care system is a political will to improve health of the population. The priorities for noncommunicable diseases and risk factors and its development have been defined. The experience in implementation of health programs in Turkmenistan is recognized by World Health Organization as significant, and was recommended for use by other countries.
Special attention to the cross-sectoral approach in prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases underlined speakers, and representatives of Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan.
At the conference, the participants informed about the fact that non-communicable diseases, mainly cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are the leading cause of deaths worldwide. More than 36 million people die from NCDs (63% of deaths in the world) among of which 16 million people die before the age of 70 years. Experts predict that if current trends continue, by 2030 the epidemic of NCDs will annually take 52 million lives.
Adoption of Global WHO Action plan on NCDs prevention and control at the 66th session of the World Health Assembly was a turning point in controlling this significant problem in global health care. In 2011, heads of states and governments, including Turkmenistan, have committed to strengthen monitoring systems of epidemic control at the country level for NCDs and their risk factors and development of national goals and indicators as outlined in the UN Political Declaration on NCDs in 2011.
In addition, Turkmenistan is a leader in implementation of the Ashgabat Declaration. Strengthening of national information systems for the monitoring of NCD risk factors was considered as key risks. An additional goal in implementation of the National Strategy for Prevention and Control of NCDs is deal with creation of a national monitoring and evaluation systems.
Other topics were discussed at the conference such as promotion of healthy lifestyles, and importance of physical education and sports in prevention of noncommunicable diseases. Particular attention was paid to a balanced diet and introduction of new technologies with regard to production of healthy food.
