A boy with cerebral palsy walked and talked within seven months as Turkmenistan builds a national social work system

A pilot of community social services in Turkmenistan has grown into a national system, and for some children it has changed what seemed possible, UNICEF Turkmenistan said on 22 October. One of them is Batyr, a toddler with cerebral palsy who could not walk, talk or sit up when a social worker first met him and his mother, Merjen, a single parent.

Walking within seven months

With community-based rehabilitation, Batyr began walking and talking within seven months of that first meeting, and within a year he was attending preschool, according to UNICEF. His story shows what early intervention can do when a family is identified and referred to the right services in time.

From a pilot in 20 districts to all 56

The change began with a joint UN program from 2020 to 2022, led by UNICEF with UNFPA, UNDP, UNODC and the UN Resident Coordinator's Office. In that pilot, 45 social work specialists in 20 districts assessed the needs of more than 4,000 people, and more than 300 practitioners received over 110 days of training. Turkmenistan adopted a Law on Social Services in 2021.

By 2025, community-level social services were available in 36 districts, and the government aims to cover all 56 by 2027. It has also approved psychosocial support professionals in every region and a pediatrician position in every local medical clinic, and 130 university students are training for the profession in 2026.

“Effective social work enables the early identification of vulnerable families, strengthens referral pathways.” — Xiaojun Grace Wang, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan

Preschool groups in remote schools

Alongside the social workers, 65 half-day preparatory groups are being rolled out across 55 schools in remote rural areas. “This is what coordination looks like when it works,” Wang said. UNICEF did not say how many children have received rehabilitation so far; sustainable financing and workforce expansion are still being discussed between the government and the UN.

More stories about children's health are collected under healthcare access.