Ashgabat, 17 February 2022 – The International Organization for Migration in Turkmenistan (IOM) in partnership with the Eurasia Foundation (EF), within the framework of the Social Innovation in Central Asia (SICA) program, and with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), held a one-day online seminar entitled "Fundamentals of a healthy lifestyle” for young leaders from different regions of Turkmenistan.

The one-day online seminar on a healthy lifestyle was attended by over 30 young leaders, participants of youth programs, volunteers, employees of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Policy, the Youth Union of Turkmenistan named after Magtymguly, the Women's Union, the National Red Crescent Society of Turkmenistan, representatives of the UN Agencies and civil society organizations and associations of Turkmenistan.

The main goal of the seminar was to raise awareness of young people about the importance of preventive measures in order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, as well as to form responsibility for their own health and motivate young people to adhere to a healthy lifestyle.

The seminar was opened by USAID Program Director in Turkmenistan Nino Nadiradze, who noted that “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not just the absence of diseases or physical factors, as defined by the World Health Organization. Preserving and strengthening the health of the younger generation is a challenge both for every young person and for the whole society.”

Azat Atajanov, Head of the IOM Representative Office in Turkmenistan also addressed the participants of the seminar with an opening speech.

The online seminar was organized in the format of a videoconference, moderated by the IOM and the EF, and involving young leaders, doctors, and civil society activists, in an interactive format. The event was attended by an expert from the World Health Organization (WHO) A. Makhkamov, who presented the preparedness and response plan of Turkmenistan to an acute infectious disease for 2021-22. The report of the Program Manager of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime A. Mamedova was devoted to psychosocial resilience during the crisis.

“The seminar turned out great. I especially liked that throughout the meeting there was contact with the audience, live discussion, a quiz and even a yoga session! A healthy lifestyle is a choice, a choice each of us makes every day. And this was the main goal of the seminar to help young people make healthy lifestyle choices,” commented Isabella Abelyan, one of the seminar's speakers.

During the seminar, the following topics were discussed: a plan for ensuring preparedness for combating and responding to acute infectious diseases of Turkmenistan, recommendations for counteracting the spread of viral infections caused by a new coronavirus (COVID-19) and influenza, psychosocial resilience of an individual during a crisis, stereotypes and statements on healthy lifestyle, the principles of healthy eating, the need for physical activity for a person, as well as the relevant for the region topic of “Melanoma and ways to prevent it”.

“The theme of the seminar is very relevant. It was such a necessary push, a reminder of the importance of a healthy lifestyle, of our responsibility for our own health and the health of others. At the seminar, I liked the presentation of information and the interactive approach, the participants did not just listen passively, but shared their opinions and experiences,” said Faruh Hojakulyyev, a participant in the seminar.

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For additional questions, please contact:

Dovlet Chariyev

IOM Communication Focal Point

E-mail: dchariyev@iom.int

Tel:+99312 488407