Akjemal Magtymova

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Akjemal Magtymova
Akjemal Magtymova
NationalityTurkmen
Alma materTurkmen State Medical University
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University

Akjemal Magtymova is a Turkmen physician who has worked in public health and development as a civil servant for the United Nations.

In 2022, Magtymova was placed on leave from her position as head of the WHO's Syria office pending an investigation by the WHO into allegations against Magtymova of corruption, fraud, and abuse.

Career

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Magtymova has provided technical, policy and strategic advice to ministries of health for equitable health financing strategies[1][2] with a focus on universal health coverage[3][4][5][6][7] people-centered primary health care and health.[8] She has worked in emergency contexts[9] involving supervision of large teams as WHO Representative as well as acting UN Resident Coordinator and Designated Official.[10][11]

United Nations

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Magtymova has worked for the United Nations Population Fund and the World Health Organization. She has focused on planning, implementation and evaluation of development and humanitarian assistance programmes, with contributions to the development of WHO-led technical guidelines,[12][13][14] reports[15][16][17][18] and authored/co-authored national and regional level publications.[19][20] In 2021, Magtymova stated her desire to work with prison officials in Syria to prevent outbreaks of viral disease, and claimed that an unspecified number of internally displaced residents in Syria had previously been transported to "quarantine facilities" as part of WHO operations in the country.[21]

In October 2022, Magtymova was accused of corruption, fraud, and abuse by WHO staffers, and placed under formal investigation as part of "one of the biggest WHO probes in years."[22] She was accused of violations including misappropriating millions of dollars in agency funds, including using WHO funds to buy gifts including laptops, gold coins and expensive cars for the country’s Ministry of Health,[23] hiring relatives of Syrian government officials who were previously accused of human rights abuses, secretly meeting with Russian military officials, and acting in an "aggressive and abusive" manner to WHO staffers.[24] Magtymova was placed on leave on an unspecified date in 2022 pending investigation of the allegations against her.[25] In response to reports of the investigation, the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean region head, Dr. Ahmed Salim Al Mandhari, sent an all-staff email claiming to be "very disturbed" by the allegations against Magtymova.[26]

References

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  1. ^ "WHO Representative and acting UN Resident Coordinator Dr. Akjemal Magtymova meets with Vice President H.E. Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed".
  2. ^ Resident Coordinators Office, ed. (June 2014). "UN and Government of Maldives Holds Initial Consultation Meeting on UNDAF". OneUNMaldives (15): 3.
  3. ^ "UHC Ministerial meeting - Eastern mediterranean region - Day 3". Archived from the original on 2020-04-28. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
  4. ^ "Salalah UHC Meeting: Interview with Dr Akjemal Magtymova, WHO Representative, Oman". YouTube. 9 September 2018.
  5. ^ "WHO ministerial meet proposes measures for universal wellness coverage in area". Oman Wires. Archived from the original on 2020-04-28. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
  6. ^ "Universal health cover a must for needy sections".
  7. ^ Resident Coordinators Office, ed. (June 2014). "WHO Regional Director Commends the Government of Maldives for its commitment and vision for universal health coverage". OneUNMaldives (15): 5.
  8. ^ "13,000 more doctors needed by 2040".
  9. ^ "Safeguarding health during storm season: preparedness and emergency response in the Gulf of Aden". 6 June 2018.
  10. ^ "UN Resident Coordinator in Maldives calls on the Vice President".
  11. ^ Resident Coordinators Office, ed. (June 2014). "Message from the Resident Coordinator a.i. Dr. Akjemal Magtymova". OneUNMaldives (15): 1.
  12. ^ WHO Guidelines for the Management of Postpartum Haemorrhage and Retained Placenta. World Health Organization. 2009. ISBN 9789241598514.
  13. ^ E, Bazant; JP, Rakotovao; JR, Rasolofomanana; V, Tripathi; P, Gomez; R, Favero; S., Moffson; J., Moodley; L., Duley (2011). "WHO Recommendations for Prevention and Treatment of Pre-Eclampsia and Eclampsia". World Health Organization. PMID 23741776. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
  14. ^ "Multi-sectoral Action Plan For The Prevention And Control of Noncommunicable Diseases in Maldives" (PDF).
  15. ^ Strategy to Prevent Cervical Cancer (PDF) (Report). World Health Organization. 2007.
  16. ^ Improving Postnatal Care and Prevention and Treatment of Postpartum Haemorrhage (Report). World Health Organization. 2009.
  17. ^ Report on Situation Analysis of Population and Development, Reproductive Health and Gender in Myanmar (Report). UNFPA. 2010.
  18. ^ EU-Luxembourg-WHO Universal Health Coverage Partnership: 5th Annual Technical Meeting Report Brussels, Belgium (PDF) (Report). World Health Organization. 2017. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021.
  19. ^ Magtymova, Akjemal (30 May 2013). "Comment: One of Maldives' biggest killers entirely preventable". Minivan News. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  20. ^ Magtymova, Akjemal (8 March 2014). "Comment: Equality for women is progress for all". Minivan News. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
  21. ^ "A Conversation With the WHO Representative in Syria". 19 May 2023.
  22. ^ "WHO Syria boss accused of corruption, fraud, abuse, AP finds". Associated Press News. 20 October 2022.
  23. ^ "WHO Syria chief accused of corruption, abuse and fraud in damning investigation". October 20, 2022.
  24. ^ "WHO Syria Boss Accused of Corruption, Fraud, Abuse, AP Finds". 20 October 2022.
  25. ^ "Head of WHO's Syria office faces allegations of fraud and abuse". TheGuardian.com. 20 October 2022.
  26. ^ "WHO 'disturbed' by reports Syria director spent million on parties and gifts".