Event highlights
A specialized training course for oncologists was held in Ashgabat at the Scientific–Clinical Centre of Oncology by the WHO Country Office in Turkmenistan, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). This initiative was designed to enhance the skills of oncologists in Turkmenistan through advanced techniques in cancer treatment, focusing on the use of port systems and catheter-based chemotherapy.
The training brought together leading oncology and anaesthesiology experts from WHO/Europe, the Eurasian School of Paediatric Oncologists and Haematologists (ESHDOG), and the European Region’s largest oncology hospital in Moscow, Russian Federation. Among the visiting experts were Dr Vitaly Smelov (Medical Officer, WHO/Europe), Dr Kirill Kirgizov (Deputy Director for Research and Head of Paediatric Bone Marrow Transplantation, N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Centre of Oncology (NMRCO), Moscow), Professor Timur Valiev (Paediatric Onco-Haematologist, Head of the Department of Paediatric Oncology and Haematology, NMRCO) and Professor Nune Matinyan (Anaesthesiologist, Head of the Department of Anaesthesiology, Resuscitation and Intensive Care, NMRCO).
The programme included comprehensive sessions on the installation and management of port systems, catheter-based chemotherapy procedures, and infection control measures. Video demonstrations from operating rooms and wards complemented theoretical discussions, ensuring participants gained both technical proficiency and an understanding of international best practices. The training also addressed updates to clinical protocols for adult and paediatric oncology, aligning national standards with global recommendations under WHO’s Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer.
This event is part of a broader project, “Procurement of medicines and medical supplies through UNDP to combat noncommunicable diseases”, aimed at strengthening Turkmenistan’s health-care system. By improving the capacity of local specialists, WHO seeks to support the country in delivering safer, more effective cancer treatment and improving patient outcomes.