Embassy News

The United States donates 19 Microscopes to the Turkmen National Tuberculosis Program

PAS No 224
December 9, 2008

Laboratory specialists examine new microscopes

Ashgabat, December 9, 2008 – On December 1, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Project HOPE presented 19 binocular microscopes to the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan (MOHMIT), in support of the National Tuberculosis Program.

The microscopes will be delivered to peripheral laboratories in Ahal, Lebap and Mary regions.  With these microscopes, rural TB centers will be able to diagnose infectious forms of tuberculosis locally, provide earlier treatment of confirmed cases more rapidly, and prevent the further spread of the infection.  At the request of the Turkmen government, Project HOPE and USAID have already provided microscopes to a number of TB Centers to facilitate the countrywide implementation of the WHO-recommended Stop TB strategy of tuberculosis control in Turkmenistan.

Project HOPE, with funding from USAID, has already trained laboratory specialists to use the new microscopes and will continue to support their work through monitoring and training.  The donation of these microscopes – along with training and past donations of laboratory equipment and supplies – is part of Project HOPE and USAID’s comprehensive strategy to strengthen the capacity of tuberculosis laboratories in Turkmenistan.  By working with Project HOPE and other partners, USAID supports tuberculosis control and prevention throughout Central Asia, and remains one of the largest development partners with Turkmenistan over the past 15 years.