Head of the Tuberculosis Department, Doctor of Medicine Associate Professor M.H. Durdyeva

Address: 18, O. Annaev Street,  Directorate of the Infectious Diseases Centres, Subtle Diseases Treatment - Prophylaxis Centre Building, 1st floor, room 2b 220 Ashgabat 

 Tel: (+99312) 73-81-74.e-mail: 

 

 

 

In 1945 an associate professor course of tuberculosis was established as part of the Facultative Therapy Department of the Medical Institute. As an independent subdivision, the Tuberculosis Department was established in 1972 and territorially is located on the base of the Tuberculosis Treatment and Prophylaxis Centre of the Directorate of Infectious Diseases Centres of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan.

At the department, where academic and interactive teaching methods are widely used, students from almost all faculties, as well as clinical residents, study.

The staff of the department has developed 65 teaching aids, 2 textbooks on tuberculosis, 11 sets of modules for individual specialties, 24 methodological manuals on various aspects of the National TB Programme of Turkmenistan. A fund of visual aids of the department has been created (an atlas of X-ray images of various lung pathologies, video materials of CT and MRT studies of the lungs, computer presentations of lecture material and practical exercises, an album of spreadsheets, etc.). Students learn molecular genetic methods for identifying mycobacterium tuberculosis.

At the postgraduate course of the department, the primary specialization of phthisiatricians and an uninterrupted professional development are carried out. At the same time, new primary specialization programmes have been developed, taking into account modern methods and approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis; training programmes for uninterrupted professional development have been modernized; interdisciplinary and interprofessional cycles of thematic improvement for phthisiatricians, family doctors and epidemiologists were developed; further training courses have been organised for the medical specialists of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Defense of Turkmenistan.

Scientific research is carried out in the following directions: the epidemiology of tuberculosis and the organization of anti-tuberculosis activities in the aspect of strengthening healthcare systems; optimization of methods for bacteriological diagnosis of tuberculosis and mycobacteriosis, determination of drug susceptibility; study of epidemiology, organization of detection and treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis; study of the effectiveness of molecular genetic techniques; studying the issues of detection, diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis in women of reproductive age, children and adolescents; study of the features of the course and development of chemotherapy regimens for patients with tuberculosis with concomitant diseases; to study the effectiveness of new and repurposed drugs in the treatment of multi- and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis.

The staff of the department takes part in conferences, round tables, webinars and video bridges with the participation of the specialists from the WHO Regional Office for Europe to discuss new and priority tasks of the TB programme, and also cooperates with such international organizations – as WHO, UNDP, Global Fund.

On the base of the department, an educational and information centre was established for the training of phthisiatricians and family doctors. Using the educational component of the National TB Programme under the Global Fund Grant, the staff of the department trains specialists from other ministries and departments.

Medical work is carried out according to the profile of the department. Innovative methods of diagnostics and treatment are being introduced, optimal chemotherapy regimens are being developed. In the supervised department, medical institutions in Ashgabat and velayat TB hospitals, patients are consulted, as well as participation in special commissions to establish a diagnosis.

The workers of the department are the organizers of joint interuniversity conferences with the participation of students on healthy lifestyle, drug addiction and AIDS prevention, etc. In addition, every year, together with the Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, student conferences and actions dedicated to the International Tuberculosis Day are held.