Turkmenistan has been urged by the World Health Organization to step testing a and other measure to aid with a current outbreak situation:
Turkmenistan has not reported any confirmed COVID-19 cases to WHO to date, but the country recently activated measures to prevent the transmission of respiratory infections within communities, including at mass gatherings, markets, shops and on public transport.
At the end of a 10-day mission to Turkmenistan with a team of WHO/Europe experts, team lead Dr Catherine Smallwood recognized the new measures put in place. The experts recommended that the country further activate the critical public health measures that are the cornerstones of a response to COVID-19: testing all suspect cases, tracing their contacts, and isolating and caring for the sick.
Is supplying teams of expert and supplies enough to help people in smaller countries with limited resources:
The WHO/Europe team arrived in Turkmenistan’s second-largest city, Turkmenabat, on 6 July following the Government’s request to help with COVID-19 preparedness and response. The trip involved complex logistical challenges, and national authorities made arrangements for the team to reach the country.
A WHO shipment of essential protective supplies for health-care workers, including face shields, protective goggles, isolation gowns and surgical masks, arrived in the country shortly afterwards.
The team visited hospitals, health centres, laboratories and 4 border crossings, including the international seaport in Turkmenbashi. The hospitals were furnished with good infrastructure and equipment, and the team did not see high bed occupancy rates in any of the facilities, nor a significant number of patients with respiratory diseases.
“They recognize the risks currently posed by the virus to the people and are making efforts to get ready to respond to COVID-19 transmission in the country,” observed Dr Smallwood.
The question is are we in more developed and larger countries doing enough to help people with limited resources to survive this storm called COVID 19. Are we to concern with self to help others in need? What can we do as citizens to people around the world? Should we ask our governments to provide needed relief?
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