Latest
Press Release
28 June 2022
Switzerland allocates USD 2,2 million to support most vulnerable rural communities in climate change and disaster risks resilience
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Press Release
20 June 2022
With the support from the European Union, WHO, together with the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, conducted a ceremony of handing over Family Doctor’s Bags as a continuation of basic services at primary health care during the COVID-19 pandemic
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Press Release
10 June 2022
With the support from the European Union, WHO, together with the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, conducted another simulation exercise (SimEx) at Manas International Airport
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Latest
The Sustainable Development Goals in Kyrgyz Republic
The UN and its partners in Kyrgyzstan are working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice for development that works for all people. The Goals interconnect and in order to leave no one behind, it is important to act in cooperation.
Speech
12 December 2020
UN Secretary-General António Guterres: Carbon neutrality by 2050 is the world’s most urgent mission
As the world marks the fifth anniversary of the adoption of the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change, a promising movement for carbon neutrality is taking shape. By next month, countries representing more than 65 per cent of harmful greenhouse gasses and more than 70 per cent of the world economy will have committed to achieve net zero emissions by the middle of the century.
At the same time, the main climate indicators are worsening. While the Covid-19 pandemic has temporarily reduced emissions, carbon dioxide levels are still at record highs – and rising. The past decade was the hottest on record; Arctic sea ice in October was the lowest ever, and apocalyptic fires, floods, droughts and storms are increasingly the new normal. Biodiversity is collapsing, deserts are spreading, oceans are warming and choking with plastic waste. Science tells us that unless we cut fossil fuel production by 6 per cent every year between now and 2030, things will get worse. Instead, the word is on track for a 2 per cent annual rise.
Pandemic recovery gives us an unexpected yet vital opportunity to attack climate change, fix our global environment, re-engineer economies and re-imagine our future. Here is what we must do:
First, we need build a truly global coalition for carbon neutrality by 2050.
The European Union has committed to do so. The United Kingdom, Japan, the Republic of Korea and more than 110 countries have done the same. So, too, has the incoming United States administration. China has pledged to get there before 2060.
Every country, city, financial institution and company should adopt plans for net zero -- and act now to get on the right path to that goal, which means cutting global emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 compared with 2010 levels. In advance of next November’s UN Climate Conference in Glasgow, Governments are obligated by the Paris Agreement to be ever more ambitious every five years and submit strengthened commitments known as Nationally Determined Contributions, and these NDCs must show true ambition for carbon neutrality.
Technology is on our side. It costs more to simply run most of today’s coal plants than it does to build new renewable plants from scratch. Economic analysis 2 confirms the wisdom of this path. According to the International Labour Organization, despite inevitable job losses, the clean energy transition will create 18 million net new jobs by 2030. But we must recognize the human costs of decarbonization, and support workers with social protection, re-skilling and up-skilling so that the transition is just.
Second, we need to align global finance with the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, the world’s blueprint for a better future.
It is time to put a price on carbon; end fossil fuel subsidies and finance; stop building new coal power plants; shift the tax burden from income to carbon, from taxpayers to polluters; make climate-related financial risk disclosures mandatory; and integrate the goal of carbon neutrality into all economic and fiscal decision- making. Banks must align their lending with the net zero objective, and asset owners and managers must decarbonize their portfolios.
Third, we must secure a breakthrough on adaptation and resilience to help those already facing dire impacts of climate change.
That’s not happening enough today: adaptation represents only 20 per cent of climate finance. This hinders our efforts to reduce disaster risk. It also isn’t smart; every $1 invested in adaptation measures could yield almost $4 in benefits. Adaptation and resilience are especially urgent for small island developing states, for which climate change is an existential threat.
Next year gives us a wealth of opportunities to address our planetary emergencies, through major United Nations conferences and other efforts on biodiversity, oceans, transport, energy, cities and food systems. One of our best allies is nature itself: nature-based solutions could provide one-third of the net reductions in greenhouse gas emissions required to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. Indigenous knowledge can help to point the way. And as humankind devises strategies for preserving the environment and building a green economy, we need more women decision-makers at the table.
COVID and climate have brought us to a threshold. We cannot go back to the old normal of inequality and fragility; instead we must step towards a safer, more sustainable path. This is a complex policy test and an urgent moral test. With decisions today setting our course for decades to come, we must make pandemic recovery and climate action two sides of the same coin.
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Take Action
18 May 2020
Coronavirus global outbreak
Everyone is talking about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Take part in getting your facts from reliable sources.
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Story
11 January 2021
Interactive TV series about HIV launched in Kyrgyzstan
A new television series for young people in the Kyrgyz language, School Elections, was launched online last week. During six 15–20-minute episodes, a girl, Ayana, who is living with HIV, tells her story of bullying, friendship and the fight for human dignity. The producers of the series hope that Ayana’s example will give hope to young people who face similar challenges.
“We have a simple idea to promote: you may differ from others in your health, appearance or level of wealth. But regardless of this, we all deserve respect, friendship, love and happiness. This series is about kindness and acceptance of others as they are,” said Azim Azimov, Head of Production at the Media Kitchen production studio and the main screenwriter of the series.
Starting on 6 November, new episodes will be aired weekly on YouTube and will also be broadcast on television, Instagram and the teens.kg youth project website. Additionally, each series has one to three interactive episodes—the leading actors invite the viewers to look at the problems raised in the series through the viewers’ eyes, experience each situation for themselves and make their own decisions.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), more than 30% of students around the world experience various forms of bullying at the hands of their classmates. Students who are perceived as “different” are often subjected to bullying for reasons of appearance, health status, including HIV status, sexual orientation and gender identity, social status or the economic situation of the family.
“This series tells people about the complex issue in simple and understandable language, to show how strong-willed and honest young people can overcome ignorance, indifference, cruelty and injustice, inspire others and change life for the better,” said Tigran Yepoyan, UNESCO Regional Adviser on HIV, Education and Health.
“This series is a powerful new instrument for reducing stigma in our society, it not only shows the difficulties of living with HIV, discrimination and bullying but also motivates our adolescents not to be afraid to fight for dignity and justice and move forward towards their dreams,” said Meerim Sarybaeva, UNAIDS Country Director for Kyrgyzstan.
The official soundtrack of the series, which was supported by the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education and UNAIDS, was performed by the singer Ayim Ayilchieva.
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Story
12 April 2022
Meet Shirin Tolubaeva, who has devoted 40 years of her life to statistics and working with data
Meet Shirin Tolubaeva. She works as the head of the district statistics department in the Kara-Suu district of Osh province. She has devoted 40 years of her life to statistics and working with data.
Shirin Tolubaeva came to work at the department of statistics back in 1982 after graduating from a technical school. She actively participated in organizing and conducting 4 Censuses in 1989, 1999, 2009 and 2022.
Currently, Shirin Tolubaeva is coordinating the Census work in one of Kyrgyzstan's largest districts with a population of more than 450,000 people. There are currently 33 coordinators, 172 trainers and 1,706 enumerators in the area. During the pandemic, all enumerators were equipped with protective equipment with technical support from UNFPA.
According to Shirin Tolubaeva, the Census is an opportunity to become involved in a big state event. “I have often had to explain to people why the Census is taking place in the first place: the state needs the information collected for a more accurate distribution of financial flows, to understand how to improve life in the country”, she said.
Shirin Tolubaeva had a great responsibility on her fragile shoulders and despite all the difficulties and COVID-19, she continues to perform her duties responsibly and with great enthusiasm helps to collect data and information from the population, which will help the country to develop in the right direction.
Learn more about UNFPA work in Kyrgyzstan.
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Story
15 March 2022
A Perilous Plight: Connecting an isolated village in Southern Kyrgyzstan to the Internet
Zardaly, an isolated village up in the mountains in Southern Kyrgyzstan, is home to about 150 people who live without electricity and communication. A mountain trail is the only direct route to Zardaly and donkeys are the most reliable form of transport.
According to Project Connect, of the 2,080 schools in Kyrgyzstan, 2,061 schools have already been connected, leaving only about 1% of schools still to be connected. Many of these schools are in harder-to-reach areas, like Zardaly, and other remote and mountainous villages, like Kyzyl-Oi and Enilchek. In the winter, connecting schools is almost impossible because the trail to Zardaly is blocked with snow.
The lack of connectivity in Zardaly also discourages visitors. Guesthouses are often vacant and grandparents residing in Zardaly rarely see their grandchildren, who would prefer to be connected to the Internet during their visits. More urgently, in the event of a medical emergency, having an internet connection could assist with contacting officials to assess the weather conditions and determine if the road is open and safe to travel to the villages located in the lower valley. Alternatively, a doctor could be contacted for telehealth purposes.
However, the lack of connectivity has not stripped the Zardaly residents of their creativity. In an effort to overcome the problem, several ingenious ideas have been put forward, including the Internet in a Box initiative – a device that stores a digital library that includes Khan Academy in Kyrgyz, thousands of video and audio lessons, e-books and Wikipedia in Kyrgyz, Russian and English. Not only is the Internet in a Box initiative tackling the issue of connectivity, but it is also helping to ensure that Kyrgyzstani cultural heritage is passed down as there are cartoons in Kyrgyz on the device as well, something not found too often elsewhere. Additionally, local residents have learnt to protect their devices from the harsh weather conditions in the region by using a plastic bottle to shield the live wires.
While connecting schools in Zardaly is not an easy task, the surface has been scratched. Before the beginning of the pandemic, a team from the Kyrgyz Internet Society made a trip up to Zardaly, accompanied by a donkey. In order to charge the Internet in a Box and other electronic devices, they also took a large solar panel which they carefully carried up the trail.
Connecting the last 1% of schools in Kyrgyzstan requires innovative technologies and financing solutions to ensure that they are connected to the Internet affordably and sustainably. Towards this ambitious agenda, in collaboration with the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, Giga launched a local competitive bidding process or Request for Proposals (RFP) for internet service providers to connect 13 of the hardest-to-reach schools in the country and extend the benefits of connectivity to the surrounding community. Connecting these schools, located in remote and mountainous regions, requires innovative technologies and ad-hoc network designs, as well as financing solutions to ensure that they are connected to the Internet affordably and sustainably.
The two RFPs launched by Giga in August and October 2021 in search for providers who could offer a sustainable solution to connect these remote schools were unsuccessful. Giga did not receive any proposals from the telecom industry in the country. Some providers argued that each of these schools would require a tailored design and strategy to connect them to the Internet, thus driving this effort non-profitable. Others argued that the timeframe set by Giga to connect them in three to four months was challenging due to the winter months.
In the coming months, Giga, in collaboration with the Kyrgyz Internet Society, will develop a playbook of connectivity solutions and business models to test and provide internet to schools in these remote and mountainous regions.
Written by Lamia Farah
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Story
28 January 2022
“Maybe one day I will be a great doctor too” – refugee student dreams to open hospital in Kyrgyzstan
Malikha, a 24-year-old Afghan refugee, studies medicine at Osh State University. She has been living in Kyrgyzstan with her parents and siblings since 2009. While still in school Malikha grew interested in biology and anatomy, and later realized that she wants to become a doctor.
But as Malikha’s father is seriously ill and her parents also need to provide for four other children, Malikha’s dream appeared completely out of reach.
That was until Malikha contacted the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) for advice and learnt about the DAFI (Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative) scholarship programme, which offers refugee students the possibility to earn an undergraduate degree.
“When I learnt about the programme, I immediately started collecting documents and making other preparations to apply. I was very anxious because my whole future depended on this scholarship. It was my only hope to receive a good education,” says Malikha.
After a competitive selection process Malikha was awarded a DAFI scholarship.
Malikha cherishes the opportunity to study medicine and is determined to become a good professional: “I am very happy to get a chance to study, to realize myself in society. I know my parents and my whole family will be proud of me.”
In her free time Malikha reads books about medicine and the biographies of famous doctors, dreaming that one day she herself may become a great doctor too. In future she would like to open a hospital in Kyrgyzstan, to help poor people who cannot afford high quality medical assistance.
"DAFI gives us refugees opportunities and hopes for future. I hope one day we will be able to help other young people who need support and want to change this world for the better.”
Education helps people forced to flee build better futures. It also enables refugees to develop professional skills and knowledge that they can use for the benefit of their host community. But globally just 3% of refugees are currently enrolled in higher education.
UNHCR works together with partners, including the DAFI programme, to provide displaced children access to quality education so they can pursue better lives. Through the dedicated support of the governments of Germany, Denmark and the Czech Republic, UNHCR and private donors, the DAFI programme has supported over 18,000 young refugees globally to undertake tertiary studies since 1992. Malikha is one of 83 refugee youths in Kyrgyzstan who have yet benefitted from DAFI scholarships since 1997.
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Story
30 March 2022
The Iron Horse: Improving animal and human health in Kyrgyzstan
Dr Maksat Usupbaeva zooms up the steep, winding roads of Kyrgyzstan’s Barskoon district on her motorcycle. She is one of a rising generation of veterinarians confidently riding “iron horses”, as they like to call them, to isolated rural communities.
In Kyrgyzstan, a country where over half of all land area is pastureland, herding cows and other livestock is central to the national economy, society and culture. But the nation has long lacked enough trained veterinarians to care for all these animals, and crossing Kyrgyzstan’s mountainous, sparsely populated landscapes to reach the herding communities who need their services remains a challenge.
As a result, one of the biggest challenges herders face relates to the health of their animals. Serious illnesses are common in their herds, such as brucellosis, a bacterial infection that humans can also contract. This, combined with the other challenges common to the sector – degraded pasturelands, disputes over land rights – has kept the productivity of Kyrgyzstan’s livestock sector low and its value chains underdeveloped. Many herders (and their animals) thus find themselves facing constant poverty and repeated threats to their health.
Since 2012, however, IFAD has invested over US$70 million through the LMDP project, implemented by Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Agriculture, and its successor LMDP-II. Together, these projects are helping 2.6 million of the nation’s rural-dwellers build a stronger pastoral economy.
Dr Usupbaeva departs to visit a farmer after receiving a call.
Investing in health and wealth
An important part of this support has been investing in the capacity of private veterinarians and engaging them in the provision of veterinary services, in partnership with the public sector. In 2018, the Government of Kyrgyzstan embedded privatized veterinary services into a revised legal framework. This model is now being implemented systematically across the country, with the support of IFAD.
The motorcycle initiative is a key part of this model. Dr Usupbaeva is the recipient of one of nearly 630 motorcycles provided to veterinarians by IFAD. Light, fast and easily manoeuvrable on narrow, winding roads, motorcycles are proving to be a cost-effective way to traverse Kyrgyzstan’s mountain passages.
The model also promotes the training of new veterinarians. To date, over 100 students have been awarded scholarships to study veterinary science at the Kyrgyzstan National Agrarian University under the LMPD and LMPD-II. As a result of the cooperation between IFAD and the Kyrgyz Government, the number of veterinarians has almost doubled, from 1,500 in 2013 to 2,600 in 2018.
For these young graduates, being a veterinarian is more than just a job. It’s a chance to start a professional career in their home villages, and to contribute to the development of their communities and the well-being of their inhabitants.
Such is the case for Dr Anarbek uulu Musabek, a 23-year-old resident of Birlesken village. His father died early in Dr uulu Musabek’s childhood, leaving his mother to care for him and his five siblings. But thanks to the scholarship he received through LMPD-II, he now has a way to build a livelihood in his home region and support his family.
Dr Usupbaeva consults with a farmer.
Trained veterinarians usher in change
Traveling veterinarians are already making a difference. Most recently, they’ve been helping the government conduct a vaccination programme to control echinococcosis, a parasitic disease that mainly affects sheep and dogs but can also infect humans. These efforts build on a previous IFAD-funded project in which veterinarians were deployed to control brucellosis through training and vaccination drives.
According to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Health, these IFAD-supported campaigns are already bearing fruit. The number of cases of brucellosis in humans has dropped – from 4,412 cases per year in 2011 to less than 500 in 2020 – and the incidence of echinococcosis in humans is decreasing, too.
And with improved access to veterinary care, animals are healthier – and more productive. Sales of products like milk and meat are up, and herders are benefiting from increased incomes. One study, for example, found that small herding households are now eating more meals a day, have better sanitation and drinking water, own more assets such as vehicles and household appliances, and make greater use of agricultural equipment. Visible improvements have also taken place in roads and other infrastructure, permitting access to more distant pastures.
These and other IFAD-funded initiatives in Kyrgyzstan have revolutionized the way these families – and everyone who supports them, including their veterinarians – carry out their work. As Dr Usupbaeva says, “Our work has become easier thanks to the support received from IFAD.”
Learn more about IFAD’s work in Kyrgyzstan.
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Story
15 October 2021
To hold a focus on HIV problem in Kyrgyzstan
The COVID-19 pandemic has still been influencing all spheres of our life. People's ordinary life has changed, and all our lifestyle has changed too.
We are used to that fact that all medical institutions are focused on fighting against COVID-19, and all infections and diseases have moved to outcompete. It could have happened with HIV infection in Kyrgyzstan, but thanks to the successful coordination work of the Republican AIDS Center with civic society organizations and international partners they were able to keep the focus on the HIV problem and moved forward.
Aibek Bekbolotov, Deputy Director of the Republican AIDS Center:
“Our main tasks during the first year of COVID-19 pandemic were to prevent break of HIV treatment and maintain patients’ adherence to ARV therapy. Thanks to all our partners’ support, we were able to develop the special roadmap and provide ARV therapy to all our patients and all people who wanted to get HIV tests had that opportunity to do it during all pandemic period. Today, ARV therapy adherence is 87% as pre-pandemic time. We keep carrying outdoor testing campaigns, providing all our activities on social media, and have launched online consultations on the new website."
Regional Cooperation Program on infectious diseases implemented by UNAIDS country office and funded by the Government of the Russian Federation managed to build quick response challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and made contribute to support the National AIDS Center. Access to HIV testing and counseling for key population groups was significantly expanded in the 2020-2021 years.
According to the Department of External Migration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, more than 750 thousand Kyrgyz citizens have been abroad. The Russian Federation is still the main host country. During the lockdown period and the massive process of coming back home labor migrants to the country, the National AIDS Center conducted special formative research among migrants.
“Our colleagues from the National AIDS Center interviewed about 240 migrants who came back to Kyrgyzstan during the lockdown period in 2020. For us, as specialists who work in the HIV sphere, the research has given general understanding of how people behave in labor migration. Do they have sexual intercourse with the key population groups? Do they know where to get HIV test? We obtained the data that formed the basis for sentinel HIV surveillance, which is carried out once every several years and allows us to assess the epidemiological situation among key population” explains Meerim Sarybaeva, UNAIDS Country Director in Kyrgyzstan.
According UNAIDS data in 2020, around 1.5 million people were newly infected with HIV. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria reported that, according to data collected at 502 health facilities in 32 African and Asian countries, HIV testing declined by 41% and referrals for diagnosis and treatment declined by 37% during the first COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, compared with the same period in 2019.
The implementation of new HIV approaches of epidemiological surveillance, the development of new methods of HIV prevention among key population groups, and the constant increase of the capacity of the medical staff of the National AIDS Centre, family medicine centers with the support of the Regional Cooperation Program on infectious diseases funded by the Government of the Russian Federation allows the country to prevent back-off in the progress of HIV sphere over the past 30 years, and to achieve the new Global targets of 95-95-95 in the next few years.
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Press Release
28 June 2022
Switzerland allocates USD 2,2 million to support most vulnerable rural communities in climate change and disaster risks resilience
The Government of Switzerland will allocate USD 2,2 million for the WFP CSP pillar aimed at building the resilience of the most vulnerable rural communities against climate change and disaster risks. This component is being implemented by WFP in partnership with the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The activities within the pillar will cover Osh, Batken and Naryn provinces and support around 50’000 most vulnerable households, as well as targeted local authorities and institutions on the national level to build a systemic approach in managing hazards, such as droughts, mudslides, floods, etc. Reliable and timely climate information, disaster-resilient planning and selected infrastructure support will be provided to the beneficiaries.
Disaster risk management activities will also be strengthened to prepare for climate related hazards and reduce their impact on food and nutrition security. The vulnerable communities will be provided with food and livestock security insurance tools and will be trained on build-back-better mechanisms.
The contribution implementation is foreseen for 1 year.
For more information about the project and WFP, please contact: Almaz Tchoroev, Communications Officer,
tel: +996 550 577 597, email: almaz.tchoroev@wfp.org
For more information on Swiss Development Cooperation, please contact: Tursunai Chodurova, Communications Officer, Swiss Embassy/Bishkek, tel: +996 770 710054, email: tursunai.chodurova@eda.admin.ch
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The Government of Switzerland provides assistance for the development of the Kyrgyz Republic. Since 1994, Switzerland has granted more than CHF 450 million to Kyrgyzstan in the form of technical, financial and humanitarian support. For more information, please visit https://www.eda.admin.ch/bishkek.
Follow us on www.facebook.com/SwissEmbassyKyrgyzstan, www.instagram.com/swissembkyrgyz
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability, and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change.
Follow us on https://www.facebook.com/WorldFoodProgrammeKyrgyzstan/, https://www.instagram.com/wfp_kyrgyzstan
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Press Release
21 June 2022
With the support from the European Union, WHO, together with the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, conducted a ceremony of handing over Family Doctor’s Bags as a continuation of basic services at primary health care during the COVID-19 pandemic
WHO purchased 190 family doctors bags for family doctors for their daily home visits and provision of basic services to families at the primary health care level. The bags contain essential medical equipment for measuring blood pressure, blood glucose level, hemoglobin and basic urine tests. Pulse-oximeters, thermometers, torniquets, torches and fetal stethoscopes will enable doctors in their daily obstetric and pediatric services. Moreover, the contents of bags include a portable fetal doppler device for detection and recording of fetal heart rate in pregnant women. The bags are very convenient to carry for home visits as well as patient visits to Family Health Centers. The distribution of bags took place in Chui oblast as a pilot initiative.
Besides the bags 6 Family Health Centers will receive Hemoque blood analyzers for prompt blood hemoglobin detection in patients with anemia and with acute health emergencies.
“We note with satisfaction that provision of family doctor’s bags and Hemoque equipment will not only improve access to primary health care but significantly upgrade the quality of care at the primary level. Doctors will feel more confident and respected when they visit their patients and provide quality and complex care to all family members of all ages. Patients’ satisfaction and trust in health care will also improve,” said Nazira Artykova, WHO Representative in Kyrgyzstan. “This initiative is so far as a pilot. In two months’ time, we will gather the information and feedback from doctors whether provided equipment and consumables were useful or not.”
“WHO’s continuous support with financial assistance from the EU helps to firstly support and encourage family doctors on the spot and improve access and quality care towards the continuation of basic services,” commented Acting Minister of Health Zharkynbek Orozbekovich Kasymbekov.
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Background: As part of the continuation of basic services in primary health care, WHO supported the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic in 2020-21 by the provision of essential drugs for the treatment of asthma, hypertension and diabetes countrywide. Moreover, every patient with diabetes was provided with an individual glucose meter with 500 blood strips. Family doctors were provided with pulse oximeters, personal protective equipment and other medical consumables. 55 mobile immunization teams were created for the continuation of child immunization at all places in Kyrgyzstan. Mental health care and psychological support to medical staff to protect them from burnout are provided.
WHO organized this event as part of the “COVID-19 in Central Asia: Crisis Response" (CACCR) program”, funded by the European Union (EU) and the WHO Regional Office for Europe. This Project covers Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan and is designed to help to prevent, detect and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in these countries.
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Press Release
21 June 2022
With the support from the European Union, WHO, together with the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, conducted another simulation exercise (SimEx) at Manas International Airport
The exercise scenario included four stages: a simulated period of 30 minutes before landing, stopping and parking the aircraft, managing patients, and examining passengers. During the exercise, participants performed standard activities according to approved procedures and performed the actual tasks required to respond to the importation of an infectious disease.
“We note with satisfaction that conducting simulation exercises is becoming a trend in Kyrgyzstan. Such simulation exercises are an important and integral part of emergency preparedness. Their task is to develop or conduct monitoring and assessment of existing capabilities by creating a simulation of an evolving emergency,” said Nazira Artykova, Representative and Head of the WHO Country Office in Kyrgyzstan. “They help identify and close gaps in pre-emergency response capabilities by giving people the opportunity to practice their roles and responsibilities and gain experience during a simulated emergency. Today's exercise helped us understand where gaps may arise and what improvements and improvements are possible in the context of our country.”
“COVID -19 has demonstrated that our response systems are vulnerable and we must continue to prepare for future pandemics and public health threats. No one will be safe until we make everyone safe. And such simulation exercises are aimed at testing and improving plans for the purposes of common security”, said Mr. Hans Farnhammer, Head of the Cooperation Section of the Delegation of the European Union to the Kyrgyz Republic, in his welcoming speech.
“Conducting practical exercises helps to firstly test our operating procedures, secondly, improve them before the real situation arises, and thirdly, build public health capacity to respond to emergencies and prepare for future threats. I want to thank all partners for their assistance in organizing large-scale practical exercises,” commented Deputy Minister of Health Bubuzhan Arykbaeva.
The exercise was attended by many stakeholders, including representatives of the Department of Disease Prevention and State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance of the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Center for State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance on Transport of the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republican Center for Quarantine and Highly Dangerous Infections, the Border Service of the State Committee for National Security of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Customs Service of the Ministry of Finance KR, the Veterinary Inspectorate under the Ministry of Agriculture of the KR, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the KR, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the KR and the Directorate of the Manas International Airport and representatives of the EU Delegation to the Kyrgyz Republic.
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Background: This simulation exercise is the fourth (from 2019 to 2022) of its kind organized as part of WHO country activities to support emergency preparedness and response. They were an example of strong and coordinated multisectoral collaboration to ensure readiness of the country's Public Health services.
WHO organized this event as part of the “COVID-19 in Central Asia: Crisis Response" (CACCR) program”, funded by the European Union (EU) and the WHO Regional Office for Europe. This Project covers Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan and is designed to help to prevent, detect and respond to COVID-19 pandemic in these countries.
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Press Release
01 June 2022
Working on Healthy and Safe Food Products in Kyrgyzstan
Every year, in Kyrgyzstan, on the occasion of the World Food Safety Day, representatives of state authorities, academia, food businesses, farmers and processors gather to discuss the work done, challenges and plans in the field of health and food safety.
Today, in Bishkek, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), together with the Department of Disease Prevention and State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance of the Ministry of Health, is holding a consultation seminar “Safer food – better health” to start the World Food Safety Day celebrations, which is aimed at informing representatives of the food businesses, trade and competent authorities about the importance and role of the use of healthy nutrition for the population.
In addition, the seminar is aimed at highlighting the main provisions of the technical regulations of the EAEU in the field of food safety, including the system of labeling and tracking of food and food products, the application of new practices and food promotion policies in the field of food safety and nutrition, which directly affects both the economic and social condition of the country.
According to FAO Food Safety and Consumer Protection Officer, Mary Kenny: “It is clear that food safety is a priority in Krygyzstan. State authorities are committed to work together on food safety policies and controls for all foods, including fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, dairy products. We also learned about the important role of farmers, food businesses, and consumers to follow good practices for safe, quality foods, from farm to fork.”
In addition to technical presentations and discussions, the award ceremony was held to announce winners of the competition among schoolchildren and students for the best videos on the importance of nutrition, healthy and safe food. The competition itself was held from May 10 to 25, 2022.
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Press Release
16 May 2022
UN in Kyrgyzstan and AIFC sign MoU on Joint Promotion of Green Financial Instruments and Investments in Social and Environmental Projects
The MoU is aimed at promoting sustainable finance instruments, including green finance, and was concluded as part of the UN Country Team’s (UNCT) visit to Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan on 12-13 May 2022 to meet with potential financial partners and discuss collaboration opportunities to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The UNCT exchanged ideas with representatives of the Astana International Finance Centre (AIFC) and its subsidiaries, including the AIFC Court, Arbitration Centre, Astana International Exchange, Business Connect, Green Finance Centre, Tech Hub, and Islamic Finance and Business Hub, Bureau of Continuing Professional Development (BCPD).
The UNCT and AIFC representatives discussed a broad range of development issues, including human capital development, especially empowerment of women, through harnessing their skills to better access the international markets. The CEO of Green Finance Centre (GFC) Aidar Kazybaev informed that GFC is opening its office in Bishkek, GFC Bishkek, which will offer new green products and services, as well as support potential issuers and investors in preparation for the issuance of green bonds on the Kyrgyz Stock Exchange.
UNRC Ozonnia Ojielo stressed the importance of “increasing the mode of engagement and degree of partnership to bring about economic and social transformation”. UNCT and AIFC subsidiaries agreed that the digitalization is key to green economy-based development leading to tangible changes in lives of vulnerable groups such as women and children. Expanding digital opportunities to agricultural and other sectors and financing innovative initiatives was discussed as one of the priority areas to prototype and pilot new development solutions.
UN Resident Coordinator Ozonnia Ojielo further stated, “We see significant conjunctures and many overlaps between the new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework across a range of services that AIFC offers. We will go back and reflect on how we can take the connecting points forward and have a more substantial collaboration between the UN and AIFC.”
UNCT expresses gratitude to Ms. Nazira Beshenalieva, Senior Advisor to the Chairman of the AIFC Board, for her help and assistance that resulted in a very successful visit.
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