Fifth Meeting of the Steering Committee of the Project on Expanding Access of Women to Reproductive Health and Maternity Services Takes Place
Bishkek, April 18, 2025 — Today, the fifth meeting of the Steering Committee of the project "Reducing Preventable Maternal Morbidity by Ensuring Access to Quality Medical Services Through the Use of an Obstetric Surveillance and Response System and Teleconsultations in Maternity Hospitals" took place. During the meeting, the results of the work for the first quarter of 2025 were summarized and future plans were discussed.
The project has achieved significant results in improving the quality of medical care for women, especially in remote regions. In particular, the adaptation of the Telemed.kg platform for the inpatient level has been completed. To this end, instructions for using the platform were developed, and 52 medical specialists were trained, which significantly improved their skills in using telemedicine technologies.
"The Telemed.kg platform will play a key role in improving the quality of medical care for women with severe obstetric conditions. We are proud to be the first to start implementing this platform in our practice. This will help us provide necessary and timely assistance without waiting for the arrival of specialists from the capital," noted Anara Aitkulueva, coordinator of the maternity department of the Issyk-Kul Regional United Hospital.
One of the major achievements of the project in collaboration with the UNFPA Regional Office and amma family is the global mobile application amma, translated into Kyrgyz language, which helps track the course of pregnancy. The application is available to expectant mothers so that they can monitor their health and the development of the child at different stages of pregnancy, as well as in the postpartum period. The project plans activities aimed at informing the public, medical professionals, bloggers, and media representatives, as well as preparing information materials and video content.
"The amma mobile application is not just a digital tool. It is a source of timely, scientifically sound, and accessible information that will accompany women at every stage—from planning a pregnancy to caring for a newborn. The special value of amma lies in its adaptation to the needs of women in Kyrgyzstan: the application is translated into the Kyrgyz language and takes into account our realities," added Baktybek Kainazarov, Head of the UNFPA Office in Kyrgyzstan.
As part of the implementation of the Obstetric Surveillance and Response System (OSRS), data collection on cases of severe postpartum hemorrhage and eclampsia has been completed. This data will form the basis for analytical work, including analysis meetings and report preparation. The OSRS is an innovative and essential tool designed to address critical challenges in maternal health, particularly the reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality. This system plays a key role in improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes by ensuring timely identification of risks, early intervention, and data-driven decision-making.
"The collected data on severe maternal illnesses will help us not only better understand current problems but also develop recommendations for improving the quality of medical care in the future. OSRS helps to effectively respond to critical situations and save women's lives," emphasized Nurgul Smankulova, RH Specialist at UNFPA in Kyrgyzstan.
In addition, as part of the project, 30 syringe pumps were purchased for the prevention of eclampsia and 40 anti-shock garments for the prevention of acute bleeding in maternity hospitals. The pumps ensure accurate and safe dosing of medications during intensive care for severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, and the anti-shock garments provide vital support for stabilizing the condition of women with severe bleeding. These are tools that will save women's lives and preserve the health of mothers.
Clinical guidelines and a protocol for providing care for postpartum hemorrhage have also been developed for medical professionals.
"Investment in equipment and training of specialists is a crucial step in ensuring the safety of women during childbirth. We are confident that this support will have a long-term impact on the health of mothers in Kyrgyzstan," noted Kaarmanbek Baidavletov, Deputy Minister of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The project's immediate plans include the launch of teleconsultations, as well as considering the possibility of cooperation with the SDG project on telemedicine. The project has planned important events, such as presenting achievements and challenges in the implementation of telemedicine in obstetric organizations, presenting the national OSRS report, and actively promoting the amma mobile application.
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The UN South-South Cooperation project, supported by the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, aims to reduce preventable maternal morbidity in Kyrgyzstan. This is achieved by expanding access to quality medical care through the Obstetric Surveillance and Response System (OSRS) and teleconsultations in five pilot maternity hospitals. The project is implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic and UNFPA.
