AKIPRESS.COM - “Access to quality healthcare is essential for society to thrive. The Government of Kyrgyzstan is deeply committed to this objective. We sincerely appreciate our collaboration with the Aga Khan Development Network to improve access to quality health care in the country," Minister of Health Talantbek Batyraliyev said in his welcome address at the opening of a three day learning event to review achievements of the Central Asian Health System Strengthening (CAHSS) programme.

CAHSS is a five year regional initiative funded by the Government of Canada and the Aga Khan Foundation.

The CAHSS programme has adopted a systems approach with a specific focus to improve the health of women of reproductive age, newborns and children under five years in high mountain areas of Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan which generally experience higher than average disease burdens. Three major components of the programme have been to improve the provision of medical services, further strengthen the capacity of health workers, and support community outreach efforts on health promotion and disease prevention. Through the CAHSS programme, partner health facilities in Naryn Oblast and Bishkek were provided modern medical equipment totalling about KGS 20 million. Additionally, KGS 15 million was provided by CAHSS for the professional development of staff from the partner health institutions in Kyrgyzstan.

The current workshop has brought together 130 participants, including senior health ministry officers, medical practitioners, community health promoters and public health specialists, from the four countries to share their experiences as part of a collective learning effort. For many attendees, this was a unique opportunity to engage with counterparts from neighbouring countries, some of whom had similar experiences and learnings to share.

“The Aga Khan Development Network highly appreciates the support from Kyrgyzstan in our collective efforts to improve the quality of life in the country. We are delighted to partner with Canada to help build strong, healthy, and inclusive communities where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential in many parts of the world, in particular here in Central Asia. This initiative reflects our shared commitment to human development in the region, in particular its remote mountain areas,” underlined Dr Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, AKDN Diplomatic Representative in Kyrgyzstan and Chairman of UCA Board of Trustees.