October 2, 2024, Ashgabat. A medical facility was inaugurated in Parahatchylyk village of Akhal velayat following the renovation and re-equipped with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Turkmenistan for provision of long-term quality medical services to the village residents totaling about one thousand people, including the Afghan community living in the village. The opening ceremony, coinciding with celebrations of Turkmenistan's Independence Day, was attended by local representatives of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, the velayat administration, villagers and representatives of the Afghan community.

Other than renovation of rooms for gynaecological, immunization and therapeutic services, the medical facility also got two additional rooms for general medical consultation. All rooms were equipped with relevant medical devices, computer equipment and furniture. The renovation of the medical facility and technical supervision was carried out by a national construction company and a national expert. 18 Afghan and 4 local community representatives were also contracted for the renovation works.

As was noted by the ceremony participants, the renovation of the medical facility in Parahatchylyk village is evidence of the successful cooperation between IOM and national partners in expanding the socio-economic opportunities of vulnerable groups, especially women and girls, and strengthening the social cohesion of local communities and Afghan nationals residing there to ensure long-term sustainable development at the local level.

The renovation of the medical facility in the village of Parahatchylyk is one of the components of IOM’s three-year regional project “Comprehensive Action Plan for Afghanistan and Neighboring Countries”. The project successfully operates a Mobile Resource Center, which to date has provided medical services and legal consultations to over 4,000 beneficiaries from the Afghan and local communities living in the villages of Akhal and Lebap provinces. In addition, the project supported the provision of vocational training in sewing to 50 women from the Afghan and local communities at the Vocational School of the Ministry of Energy of Turkmenistan in Mary, 17 of whom have by now managed to establish their own businesses.

The project is implemented with direct involvement of representatives of the Afghan and local communities in Akhal and Lebap provinces and close cooperation with local authorities and non-governmental organizations.

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IOM Contact Person in Turkmenistan:
Dovlet Chariyev, Project Associate
tel.: +99365708755, e-mail: dchariyev@iom.int