Turkmenistan is strengthening state-level measures to protect maternal and child health and promote exclusive breastfeeding. Efforts in this area were discussed extensively on August 5 at a high-level national roundtable held in Ashgabat.
The roundtable was jointly organized by the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Guardianship and the UNICEF Representative Office in Turkmenistan. Representatives of government institutions, the Mejlis, the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, higher education institutions, public organizations and international organizations attended the event.
Speakers emphasized that breastfeeding is important not only from a medical perspective but also has significant social and national importance, serving as one of the foundations for raising a healthy generation. Exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of a child’s life was highlighted as an important component of the national health policy.
Oguljahan Atabaeva, Vice President of the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation, emphasized that the opportunities created by the state to protect maternal and child health are expanding. She also stressed the need to provide systematic medical support to women from pregnancy through the postpartum period.
The meeting put forward proposals to develop a local counselling system for mothers based on the “peer-to-peer” approach, as well as to involve lactation specialists and nurses more actively in this work. It was emphasized that these measures would contribute to improving the effectiveness of the healthcare system at the national level.
Particular attention was also paid to the role of the mass media in raising public awareness. Participants proposed expanding the involvement of the business sector in creating more favorable conditions for breastfeeding mothers.
These initiatives are considered an important part of the state policy being implemented under Turkmenistan’s approved National Programme “Healthy Mother — Healthy Child — Healthy Future” for 2026–2030. The programme represents one of the strategic priorities aimed at safeguarding the health of future generations in the country.
Source: TDH
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