2001 Press Releases

U.S. Senator Addresses Opening of Turkmen-American Health Care Center

May 23, 2001

On May 14, 2001, the American International Health Alliance (AIHA), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan (MOHMI), and U.S. partners from the state of North Dakota officially opened a model Primary Health Care Training Center at Health House #1 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Dr. Lonna Milburn, Associate Professor of the University of North Dakota, read a letter by the U.S. Senator Byron L. Dorgan in which he addressed the participants of this opening ceremony. The following is the text of the letter.

As a United States Senator from North Dakota, I am very pleased to extend my warmest congratulations today on the opening of the model Primary Health Care Training Center in Ashgabat. I know the partners on both sides of the ocean have put a lot of hard work and dedication into this effort.

I would like to express my great appreciation and respect for the efforts of my fellow North Dakotans who are represented in Ashgabat today by Dr. Lonna Milburn and Dr. John Baird. They have volunteered hundreds of hours in helping Turkmenistan strengthen its primary health care system. I would also like to thank the partners in Turkmenistan, including the Minister of Health and Medical Industry and his colleagues at the Ministry, particularly Dr. Nazarova, Dr. Nedirova and all the faculty of the Training Center; and the many other health care professionals and educators who have contributed to making this new center a reality.

Finally I would like to thank Ambassador Steven Mann, the U.S. Agency for International Development and American International Health Alliance for helping to bring the people of North Dakota together with their colleagues in Turkmenistan for such an important and worthwhile undertaking.

Sincerely,
Byron L. Dorgan
United States Senator