“It has been spreading like a pandemic in the world for almost two years. From a scientific point of view, it would be highly unlikely that the virus would spread to Turkmenistan. ” the BBC acknowledged WHO representative Catherine Smolwood.
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The WHO uses national data on the prevalence of Covid-19 in its statistics. Turkmenistan, along with North Korea and some Pacific island nations, is the only countries that have not yet reported cases of Covid-19. If these statistics are reliable in the case of the small and remote Pacific island countries, the leadership of totalitarian North Korea (25 million people) and authoritarian Turkmenistan (6 million) is likely to withhold information about the true situation.
Rachel Denber, a spokeswoman for Human Rights Watch, said the Turkmen government had long stood out by withholding data and punishing people for revealing the truth.
Covid-19 patients ‘do not exist’
Sources of information in Turkmen health care facilities RFE / RLthat statistics on the prevalence of Covid-19 are compiled but not made public. Around 25,000 deaths have been reported since the start of the pandemic, possibly related to Covid-19.
Victims who die with Covid-19-like symptoms are released to relatives in special plastic bags; there are many freshly excavated graves in public cemeteries, indicating an increase in mortality.
Sajahat Kurbanov, a resident of Turkmenistan (name changed) told the BBCthat he was lucky to recover from an infection with Covid-19.
In August, he struggled with shortness of breath, feeling chest pain. The doctors concluded that he had pneumonia and advised him to go to the hospital immediately. However, several hospitals have refused to admit him because there are no official coronavirus patients in Turkmenistan.
I panicked and asked the doctor, “What should I do?” Die here on the spot? ”
The failed Turkish diplomat was rescued
Eventually, however, he managed to get to the hospital. Kurbanov says he has spent about $ 2,000 on drugs and bribes to medical staff. Ten days later, he was discharged from the hospital.
A more sad fate befell Turkish diplomat Kemal Ujkun, who fell ill and was hospitalized in Ashgabat. Doctors diagnosed him with ‘pneumonia’, although Ujkun had typical symptoms of Covid-19. He was treated with antibiotics, although they did not help the coronavirus.
Oujun’s wife, Guzide, contacted Turkish hospitals and sent x-rays of her husband’s chest; Turkish experts have confirmed that he is likely to have Covid-19.
The diplomat’s wife tried to get a plane to transport the sick man to Turkey, but it was too late: the 57-year-old man died without recovering from the disease.
Vaccination against Covid-19 is mandatory for all residents
Kurbanov, a survivor of Covid-19, says hospital staff are very careful and avoid using words like “Covid-19” or “coronavirus.” Instead, they say “this disease,” “this virus.”
While he was being treated at the hospital, Kurbanov received a text message from the government urging him to wear a face mask because there was sand and dust in the air.
“Are we dying of dust?” asks Kurbanov. “They’re ready to let people die, but they don’t want to admit they have Covid-19.”
However, the Turkmen government has taken steps that are apparently aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19. People are advised to use face masks many shops closed, restricted public transport, ban on crowds, including weddings and funerals.
Turkmenistan this summer became the first country in the world, which made vaccination against Covid-19 compulsory for all citizens over the age of 18. Covid-19 vaccines produced in Russia and China are used to vaccinate the population. Slightly more than half (53%) of the Turkmen population is currently fully vaccinated.
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