The MoU, which established the official cooperation between the Turkic Council and the WHO aims at enhancing the existing collaboration between the two organizations.
Under the MoU; Parties are planning to hold consultations at the level of leaders and experts of the two organizations; exchange information as well as methodological and regulatory documents on public health and ensuring sanitary and epidemiological well-being; hold joint conferences, forums, round tables, seminars, workshops, exhibitions, events; implement joint programs and projects in the areas of mutual interest; prepare flagship initiatives, joint analytical and conceptual reports on areas of cooperation and other forms of interaction in the upcoming period.
Following the signing of MoU, Secretary General Amreyev and President of the Regional Director Kluge discussed the topics of mutual interest and future projects in the field of health.
Noting the efforts and activities of the Secretariat in the fight against the pandemic, Secretary General Amreyev stated that following the Meeting of the Ministers of Health of the Turkic Council on 28 April 2020 the following new mechanisms were established: “Health Coordination Committee” headed by the Deputy Ministers for coordinating all the cooperation areas; “Supply Chain Group” for providing each other medicine and medical equipment and “Health Scientific Group” for exchanging experience among medical professionals.
Regional Director Kluge referred to the excellent relations of WHO with the Member States of the Turkic Council and stated that WHO are committed to build a strong alliance with the countries of the Turkic Council in maintaining their leadership role as well as coordinating the different stakeholders in and across countries.
In this context, Dr. Hans Kluge informed that WHO opened its new Istanbul Office for humanitarian and health emergencies yesterday in Istanbul for better serving to the countries of Europe. He noted that Istanbul office will assist member states in the areas of prevention, preparedness, risk management and capacity building for humanitarian and health emergencies at the regional and global levels.
They emphasized that the MoU will lay the legal basis for the future cooperation and pave the way to develop concrete projects between the Turkic Council and WHO.
