Ashgabat, 30 September 2020: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) handed-over skid sprayers for disinfectants to the sanitary and epidemiological service (SES) of the Ministry of Healthcare and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan. The skid sprayers were procured under UNDP’s Rapid Response Facility (RRF) grant received by Turkmenistan country office to fight the effects of the global pandemic situation.

“The Government of Turkmenistan has undertaken active measures to prevent the threat of COVID-19 and protect its citizens through timely and appropriate actions.  We are proud to support these actions and offer our services. UNDP has already disbursed over USD 230 000 under the Rapid Response Facility grant to support most vulnerable groups of the population affected by the global pandemic situation. We will continue working to ensure that socio-economic impact of the current pandemic on Turkmenistan is minimized,” noted Ms. Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative a.i.

The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has spurred unprecedented demand for sanitization services and supplies. UNDP supports Turkmenistan in effective pandemic response, particularly in procurement of critical medical equipment.

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In July 2020, the Government of Turkmenistan has adopted the Immediate Socio-Economic Response Plan to Acute Infectious Disease Pandemic designed with support of the United Nations in Turkmenistan. The development and implementation of the Plan is technical lead by the UNDP. This Socio-Economic Response Plan comprises five areas of work that together constitute an integrated support package of measures to mitigate the negative impact of the global pandemic on the socio-economic situation in Turkmenistan, with particular focus on the most vulnerable groups in line with the principle of “leaving no one behind”.