Press Release

Switzerland team up with WFP to improve the living conditions of the residents of Social Inpatient Institutions in the Kyrgyz Republic

29 March 2023

Bishkek – The Ambassador of Switzerland to the Kyrgyz Republic, His Excellency Olivier Bangerter, together with WFP Representative and Country Director, Kojiro Nakai and the Minister of labour, social security and migration Kudaibergen Bazarbaev, visited the Jaiyl Psychoneurological Social Inpatient Institution (SII) upon completion of the refurbishment works for the project aimed at improving the living conditions of people residing in targeted SIIs across the country.

With the generous contribution of USD 473,000 from the Government of Switzerland, WFP, in partnership with the Social Protection Department under the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Migration, completed repair and construction works at the 6 priority SIIs in Chuy, Jalal-Abad, Talas and Batken provinces with worst WASH conditions (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene). In particular, better living conditions in terms of access to water, sanitation and hygiene have been established and the infrastructure of kitchen facilities have been improved.

In total 1200 residents, receiving social care services at SIIs, which include adult persons with disabilities and the elderly, now have access to proper WASH facilities, as well as balanced and nutritious meals. In partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Kyrgyz State Medical Academy named after I.K. Ahunbaev, WFP enhanced the physiological food norms (daily food rations for vegetables, bread, meat and etc) for all SIIs, which were not revised since 2007.

Previously, the SIIs used the same outdated food norms for adults and children, the project adjusted the norms for children and prepared a more balanced ration (less carbohydrates) for all residents of SIIs. With the updated food norms, a new decree was issued and accompanying regulation to implement food norms across all SII was developed. Additionally, WFP completed capacity strengthening activities for cooks and administration of all 16 SIIs in the country under the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Migration on enhancing meal preparation and basic nutritional knowledge.

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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 around CHF 500 million to Kyrgyzstan in the form of technical, financial and humanitarian support. For more information, please visit https://www.eda.admin.ch/bishkek.

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.

Almaz Tchoroev

WFP

Communications and Donor Relations Officer

almaz.tchoroev@wfp.org +996 312 660033 ext. 2600

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