ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, 22 September 2026 — The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Office in Turkmenistan, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, successfully implemented a comprehensive programme aimed at strengthening national capacity and refining clinical protocols for cervical cancer treatment. Conducted within the framework of the 2026 Annual Work Plan, the initiative brought together a series of expert online sessions and a concluding two-day training led by UNFPA International Expert Dr. Alexey Shevchuk.
Between 24 August and 11 September 2026, a series of four specialized online meetings took place in Ashgabat, bringing together leading specialists from key medical institutions across the country. During these sessions, participants, together with the international expert, conducted a detailed review and step-by-step discussion of key sections of the updated national clinical protocol, addressing primary diagnostics, stage-specific surgical treatment algorithms, combined radiation and chemotherapy, and follow-up care systems.
The programme concluded with a two-day online-training held on 21–22 September 2026 at the UN House in Ashgabat, bringing together 30 medical specialists from across the country. As part of the training, Dr. Alexey Shevchuk presented modern international standards for surgical interventions, anti-cancer therapy regimens, and methods for minimizing complications. In addition, a session dedicated to nutritional support and diet therapy for mitigating the side effects of chemotherapy and accelerating patient recovery was conducted by a UNFPA Turkmenistan staff member.
As a result of this joint effort, national specialists and the international expert developed updated algorithms for post-treatment surveillance and patient rehabilitation. This comprehensive series of events contributes to the finalization and integration of a modern clinical protocol for cervical cancer treatment into the healthcare system of Turkmenistan.
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Dr. Alexey Shevchuk, MD, PhD, is an oncologist, gynecologic oncologist, and surgeon with over 20 years of experience in high-tech surgical treatment of gynecological malignancies. He currently serves as the Head of the Gynecologic Oncology Department at the N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology (Moscow, Russian Federation). Dr. Shevchuk completed international fellowships in leading European clinics and possesses extensive expertise in executing educational and research initiatives in gynecologic oncology. ///nCa, 23 September 2026 (in cooperation with UNFPA Turkmenistan)