Ashgabat (TDI): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $75 million loan, along with a $2 million grant from the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific, to expand and improve Turkmenistan’s nursing and midwifery workforce.
According to an ADB statement, this marks the Bank’s first health sector project in Turkmenistan.
“The project aims to provide high-quality health services based on people’s needs and ensure equitable access to healthcare by strengthening the nursing profession and education,” said ADB Country Director for Turkmenistan Artur Andrysiak.
He noted that this is ADB’s third project in the country, coinciding with 25 years of ADB–Turkmenistan cooperation.
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The project will include the design and construction of a climate-resilient nursing school in Ashgabat, featuring clinical simulation labs, dormitories, a mother-friendly room, and an edible garden to promote nutrition.
It also entails the supply of modern equipment, curriculum reform, updated teaching methods, and faculty training aligned with international standards.
The total project cost is estimated at $98 million, with the Turkmen government contributing $23 million in counterpart financing.
The initiative aligns with Turkmenistan’s healthcare reform agenda, which prioritizes improving the education and qualifications of health workers.
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Nurses, often the first point of contact in the health system, will be empowered to provide both essential and preventive care.
ADB adopted its latest country partnership strategy for Turkmenistan in August 2024, focusing on climate resilience, economic diversification, human capital development, and institutional reforms.
