Press Release

OPEC Fund cofinances Hydrotherapy Center in Turkmenistan with US$5 million loan

59/2005 June 1, 2005, Vienna, Austria
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The OPEC Fund for International Development today signed a US$5 million loan agreement with Turkmenistan to help finance expansion of the Archman Hydrotherapy Center, a popular thermal spa located some 130km from the capital Ashgabat.

Utilizing the healing waters of a natural hot spring, the Center has established itself as an important health care facility, providing treatment for a host of chronic illnesses. Currently, it is operating well below capacity, using barely one-sixth of the volume of water that gushes from the spring. The aim of the project is to better exploit the thermal waters by expanding facilities to incorporate a fully-equipped, medical hydrotherapy center. The new center would be capable of providing both diagnostic services and treatment for a wide range of complex medical conditions.

The project is regarded as a priority initiative of the government’s health sector development program, which seeks to raise the quality and availability of health care and generally improve the health status of the population. Both infant and maternal mortality levels are relatively high, and in recent years life expectancy has fallen, largely as a result of the prevalence of infectious and circulatory system diseases.

The new 12,000 m² building will house medical, educational, laboratory and research facilities, along with wards to accommodate 100 patients. Auxiliary buildings will house a mortuary, pharmacy, kitchen, laundry and administrative services. In addition, existing facilities will be fully renovated and the entire complex furnished and fitted out with all the necessary medical equipment. The center will be staffed by a specialist team of medical and support personnel.

This is the third loan to be extended by the OPEC Fund to Turkmenistan. The previous two supported projects in the health and water supply sectors.

Today’s agreement was signed in Vienna by HE Mr. Vladimir Kadyrov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to the Republic of Austria, and by Mr. Jamal Nasser Lootah, Chairman of the Governing Board of the OPEC Fund.

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