OSCE organizes online medical training on management of border-crossing points in Turkmenistan

From 19 to 20 May 2020, the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized an online training on the management of border crossing points (BCP) in the context of the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The training course aimed to raise awareness about the management of BCPs in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus through border crossing. It was attended by representatives of the State Border, Customs, and Migration Services as well as the Sanitary and Epidemiology Service of the Ministry of Healthcare and the Medical Industry of Turkmenistan.

The event presented international health regulations and the provisions and practical application of the regulations at points of entry. The participants were provided with insights into the coronavirus infection, COVID-19, and its challenges to public health. WHO response and support to countries affected by pandemic were also presented.

In her opening speech, Natalya Drozd, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat said: “The COVID-19 outbreak presents unprecedented challenges to the entire international community as it continues severely affecting health systems and economies of the countries across the world.”

“In this challenging and fast-evolving environment, preventing the spread of COVID-19 remains one of the most effective measures,” stressed Drozd. “In an effort to stop the spread of the virus, along with health personnel, border guards are also actively engaged in countering this serious threat at border-crossing points through a thorough examination and control of people and goods crossing the borders.”

“Preventing disease is always preferred, and it is our belief that the training will complement the efforts of the host authorities in preventing the penetration into the country”.

The training course presented practical aspects related to compliance with preventive measures and appropriate use of personal protective equipment at border-crossing points. It included a simulation exercise on the medical examination of passengers and the use of sanitary personal measures at border crossings.

The training was organized in co-operation with the WHO Country Office in Turkmenistan, the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the Ministry of Healthcare, and the Medical Industry of Turkmenistan. Together with WHO experts and national experts from the State Sanitary and Epidemiology Service of the Ministry of Healthcare and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan facilitated the event.

The training was organized within the framework of the Centre’s extra-budgetary project on “Strengthening State Border Service Capacities in Turkmenistan” with financial support from the Government of Germany.