“The COVID-19 pandemic has been spreading around the world for almost two years now. From a scientific point of view, it is hardly possible to imagine that no virus in Turkmenistan “, – said in an interview with BBC senior officer of the World Health Organization (WHO) emergency Katherine Smallwood ( by Catherine Smallwood ).
Thus, for the first time, the WHO representative publicly expressed doubts about the reliability of the statements of the government of Turkmenistan that no cases of coronavirus infection were recorded in the country.
In July 2020, Catherine Smallwood headed the WHO mission to Turkmenistan. Following the visit, the expert called on the Turkmen government to take such measures as if COVID-19 had entered the country.
Asked by a journalist if this means that WHO now points out that the data provided by Turkmenistan is unreliable, Smallwood replied that the health organization does not have the authority “to express doubts that the country is acting in the spirit of the International Health Regulations,” referring to the legal framework defining the rights and responsibilities of countries in the face of global health crises.
According to the WHO representative, their task is to build a dialogue with such governments as President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov , and not make statements that will not lead to the desired action.
The expert noted that during the visit in 2020, the delegation noticed positive changes: for example, fines for wearing a mask on the street and accusing people of creating panic were replaced by requirements to wear masks in public places and maintain a safe distance. Also, for the first time in the world, the country introduced compulsory vaccination of the adult population. In addition, the government has finally opened up to dialogue on measures to contain the coronavirus. “And this is exactly what we are striving for. These measures will help protect the population, ”Smallwood said, adding that the government has presented a concrete plan for possible actions, such as increasing the use of medical masks.
“WHO relies on trust, communication and good faith between the organization and states. We will continue to build an open dialogue with countries regardless of the circumstances, ”concluded the WHO expert.
On September 21, Turkmen human rights organizations sent an open letter to the Director of the WHO European Office, Hans Kluge, and called on to comment on the epidemiological situation in Turkmenistan, as well as to get the authorities of Turkmenistan to transfer biological materials from patients with COVID-19 symptoms to WHO for independent research.
The appeal remained unanswered, but after that WHO’s dialogue with the government of Turkmenistan intensified.
On October 8, Hans Kluge arrived in Ashgabat and held talks with President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, following which the parties agreed to conduct “in the near future” a WHO technical mission in Turkmenistan to study the genome of the coronavirus.
Source: Chronicles of Turkmenistan