Embassy News

USAID and International Support for HIV/AIDS Prevention in Turkmenistan

PAS No 188
August 08, 2007

Ashgabat, August 08, 2007 – On August 2, representatives of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, as well as public and international organizations met to discuss opportunities for cooperation in implementing the National Program on HIV/AIDS Prevention.  The Ministry of Health organized the meeting with technical support from the CAPACITY Project, funded by the U.S. Government through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

During the meeting, participants had the opportunity to discuss the draft of CAPACITY’s work plan which was developed jointly with partners working in the area of HIV prevention.  This work plan provides wide opportunities for joint activities in increasing public awareness of HIV/AIDS, especially among youth, on issues of sexual education, in developing specific national programs and strategies, and in conducting training with the participation of national and international experts. CAPACITY is planning to implement its activities in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the National AIDS Prevention Center, youth and women’s unions as well as international organizations such as WHO, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNODC, UNICEF, and MSF. 

In a presentation at the round table event, the Regional Director of the CAPACITY Project, Lev Khodakevich, emphasized that improved coordination among government, international, and public organizations with the participation of mass media will strengthen the national health system.

The CAPACITY Project is one example of a variety of USAID programs that support the health sector in Turkmenistan.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provides economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 100 countries worldwide.