The Turkmen government has signed an agreement with the European Bureau of the World Health Organization (WHO) on cooperation in 2004-05. According to the Turkmen Health Ministry, the agreement focuses on maternal and children\'s health, reproductive health, monitoring infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, financing of health systems, and environmental influences on health. The project budget is set at $190,000. Turkmenistan is in the process of dismissing some 15,000 health-care professionals, mostly lower-level health workers who provide most basic health services throughout the country. (RIA-Novosti)