Boosting immunization knowledge in Turkmenistan’s schools
Twenty WHO-trained family doctors and immunologists led a series of health education classes in schools across Turkmenistan at the end of 2023. Over 2 months, classes on infectious diseases, preventive measures and the importance of vaccination reached more than 1800 students in 30 secondary schools in all regions of the country.
“Schools play a key role in teaching and promoting healthy habits in communities,” said Siff Malue Nielsen, Technical Officer for Acceptance and Demand at WHO/Europe. “While topics like physical education and healthy nutrition have long been part of curricula, comprehensive information on preventing infectious diseases, including through immunization, has been missing. This omission deprives children of vital knowledge about the life-saving potential of vaccines. These activities being implemented in Turkmenistan are an important initiative to try and close this gap.”
The educational sessions were the result of a collaboration between the WHO Country Office in Turkmenistan and the country’s Ministry of Health and Medical Industry and Ministry of Education. They were organized as part of the “Central Asia COVID-19 Crisis Response – Phase 2” project, co-funded by the European Union, and were held in various cities including Ashgabat, Balkanabat, Bayramaly, Dashoguz, Kerki, Koneurgench, Mary, Turkmenabat and Turkmenbashi.