ADB Invests $77 Million to Transform Nursing Education in Turkmenistan

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a landmark $75 million loan along with a $2 million grant from the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific (JFPR) to support a groundbreaking project aimed at advancing nursing and midwifery education in Turkmenistan.

This initiative marks ADB’s first venture into the healthcare sector in Turkmenistan and represents a significant step toward strengthening the nursing profession and broadening access to high-quality medical services nationwide, The Caspian Post informs via Turkmen media.

Central to the project is the construction of a modern nursing school in Ashgabat, which will include state-of-the-art classrooms, interactive simulation laboratories, a maternity care ward, residential dormitories, and a garden of edible plants designed to promote healthy nutrition and lifestyle education.

Beyond infrastructure development, the project will also focus on updating nursing curricula in accordance with international standards, acquiring advanced medical and educational equipment, and organizing capacity-building programs for nursing instructors and senior healthcare staff. These comprehensive measures aim to strengthen the national healthcare workforce and elevate the standard of care throughout the country.

The total project cost is estimated at $98 million, with the Government of Turkmenistan contributing $23 million in co-financing. Speaking on the initiative, ADB Country Director for Turkmenistan, Artur Andrisyak, noted that this is the third collaborative project between ADB and Turkmenistan, reflecting the growing partnership and mutual trust between the two.

“This initiative not only addresses critical gaps in healthcare education but also signals a new chapter in ADB’s support for human development in Turkmenistan,” said Andrisyak.