COVID-19 prevention, response
COVID-19 prevention, response, to protect families and children from the spread of the infection in the country.
UNICEF will support the Government of Turkmenistan in implementation of essential interventions targeting children and their families with dissemination of risk communication messages, equipping schools and health facilities with essential hygiene supplies to prevent and control the spread of the infection in the country.
Backgraound:
The global COVID-19 pandemic has affected children’s survival, health, well-being and education. Although there are no officially recorded cases of COVID-19 in Turkmenistan at the time of publishing this document, the socio-economic crisis caused by the necessary measures to protect the population and prevent the spread of infection has taken a toll on many families especially the most vulnerable. In Turkmenistan, UNICEF has worked with Government partners and UN sister agencies to implement the two national plans addressing the impact of the pandemic, the Country Preparedness and Response Plan and the Socio-Economic Response Plan developed to ensure that the needs of children and their families are addressed during these unprecedented times.
In the framework of these plans, UNICEF, as a lead UN agency in Risk Communication and Community Engagement, will expand its work with the State Committee for Television, Radio Broadcasting and Cinematography in delivering prevention messages including TV spots and animations to children and their families through national media and UNICEF channels. Capacity building of mass media representatives will continue to equip them with knowledge and skills to accurately report on the pandemic risks and on the most effective prevention measures. Procurement support of UNICEF to the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry will ensure uninterrupted supply of vaccines for all children, as well as strengthening the capacity of hospitals with essential medical and hygiene supplies. UNICEF’s ongoing assistance to Ministry of Education in introduction of digital and distance education, as well as providing healthy lifestyle education to all school children will ensure the quality and resilience of education system in the country. The support will also include cooperation with Ministry of Labor and Social Protection on developing the community-based social services and addressing the socio-economic impact of the pandemic on vulnerable families and their children.
UNICEF’s work with partners will focus on two main areas of intervention to contribute to achieving this result:
UNICEF is implementing risk communication and community engagement initiatives to promote dissemination of reliable information, bringing relevant guidance to parents, caregivers and educators, and partnering with front-line responders to ensure they have the information and resources they need to keep children healthy and learning.
- Supporting Turkmenistan’s media in reporting reliable information during the ongoing COVID-19 prevention measures and vaccination deployment in the country, as well as sharing best practices on messaging from the regional experiences
- Reaching parents, youth and children with risk communication messages and lifesaving information on hygiene and infection prevention through national media and UNICEF digital communication channels
- Organizing awareness raising activities among children on promoting the importance of hand hygiene and healthy behaviours and disseminating informative hygiene posters in public institutions and schools
UNICEF is providing information, guidance, expertise and procurement services to protect and equip children and families, healthcare workers, teachers and front-line responders with knowledge and skills, tools, as well as vaccines and vaccine-related equipment and hygiene supplies.
- Supporting the Government in introduction of digital and distance education to strengthen quality and preparedness of education system
- Assisting Ministry of Education implement safe school protocols and informing school children and service providers of institutions about COVID-19 measures
- Providing the Government with procurement services of vaccines and vaccine related equipment to ensure the continuation of routine immunization to prevent outbreaks of infectious diseases among children
- Procuring and delivering essential medical equipment and hygiene supplies to health and education facilities based on the prioritized needs
- Working with the Government in developing community-based social services to address the socio-economic impact of the pandemic on vulnerable families and their children, including provision of case management and psychosocial counselling