As part of the educational sessions “Youth and Digital Transformation: Innovations for Sustainable Development,” UNDP experts met students at the UN building in Ashgabat to discuss non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention and digital health innovations, marking World Health Day (7 April).
The NCD expert explained how to prevent obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, emphasizing a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and monitoring of key health indicators. Students also discovered that staying active doesn’t require intense workouts: even simple exercises, such as neurogymnastics, can reduce stiffness, relieve stress, and improve overall physical and mental well-being.
The digital health expert highlighted that modern medicine is no longer just about doctors and prescriptions. Telemedicine, patient mobile apps, databases, and smart hospital management systems are already being rolled out worldwide and proving highly effective.
Students also explored digital solutions currently available in Turkmenistan: an app for doctors listing up-to-date medicines (through UNDP–Ministry of Health cooperation), smart pillboxes, video-observed therapy, and an ultra-portable AI-powered X-ray device that can assess the probability of pulmonary tuberculosis in just two minutes with 97% accuracy. Thanks to these tools, funded by the Government of Turkmenistan and the Global Fund, diagnosis and treatment are becoming faster, more accurate, and more accessible.
The series “Youth and Digital Transformation: Innovations for Sustainable Development” is scheduled for 2026 in partnership with Oguz Han Engineering and Technology University of Turkmenistan, under the UNDP–Ministry of Education Memorandum of Understanding (2024).
The sessions provide youth with opportunities to learn about digital technologies and strengthen their knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They reflect UNDP’s commitment to empowering youth as drivers of innovation and sustainable development, equipping them with the tools to shape the country’s digital future. ///nCa, 8 April 2026 (in cooperation with UNDP Turkmenistan)