Oriented on making people closer

On October 1, a strategic roundtable was held at the UN building in Ashgabat, dedicated to the implementation of the digital educational program “Immune Patrol” by the World Health Organization (WHO). The program is designed to teach children the basics of immunity, hygiene, and disease prevention in an interactive, game-based format.

The event brought together representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan, as well as staff from UNICEF and WHO offices. The main goal of the meeting was to coordinate efforts for integrating “Immune Patrol” into the national curriculum.

The roundtable was held within the framework of WHO’s #Youth4Health initiative, which promotes youth engagement in health education through digital innovations.

Participants agreed on the following key steps:

1. Establishing a joint working group of the Ministries of Health and Education to oversee program implementation;

2. Developing a national action plan for phased introduction of “Immune Patrol”;

3. Pilot testing the offline version of the tool to increase accessibility in schools;

4. Conducting teacher training workshops during the current academic year.

“Immune Patrol” is an engaging, scientifically grounded platform that introduces the youngest citizens of the country to fundamental health concepts.

The integration of this digital tool into Turkmenistan’s education system reflects the state’s strategic commitment to strengthening health literacy from an early age. By providing students with essential knowledge and skills, this initiative helps foster a healthier, more informed generation, prepared to make responsible decisions regarding their well-being.

ORIENT

Photo: Provided by the WHO Country Office in Turkmenistan