Bishkek, 13 May 2025 — A conference dedicated to the International Day of Midwives was held in Bishkek under the theme "Humanitarian Response: Midwives on the Frontlines." The focus was on the critical role of midwives during emergencies and ensuring access for vulnerable groups — including refugee and stateless women — to reproductive, maternal, and child health services under the State-Guaranteed Benefit Package (SGBP).
The event was organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in partnership with the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and the Kyrgyz Midwives Association. Participants included national and international organization representatives, healthcare workers, and refugee and stateless women themselves.
Baktybek Kainazarov, Head of the UNFPA Office in Kyrgyzstan, stated:
"In times of crisis, midwives are often the first to respond. Their role is invaluable. Together with the government and partners, we are working to ensure every woman, regardless of status, receives quality and timely care. This is particularly important under the State-Guaranteed Benefit Package, which is meant to serve everyone within the country."
The State-Guaranteed Benefit Package (SGBP) is a system that ensures citizens receive a certain volume, types, and conditions of medical care. This means every person has the right to receive healthcare in any medical institution, whether public or private. The program operates under Kyrgyz law and is financed through government and mandatory health insurance.
Access to healthcare under the SGBP requires an identity document, proof of benefits eligibility, registration with a family doctor group, health insurance status, and a specialist’s referral.
Asel Orozalieva, Director of the Kyrgyz Midwives Association, emphasized:
"Midwives are on the frontlines of healthcare, especially in hard-to-reach and crisis-affected areas. To perform their duties, they must understand legal frameworks like the SGBP. We conduct training, share experiences, and support our colleagues so that every woman — citizen or not — feels protected."
Women who had experienced humanitarian crises and displacement also shared their stories.
Mukarram Amanova, a stateless woman, shared:
"I was born and raised in Kyrgyzstan, but the state did not recognize me until 2024. People like me deserve equal rights to health. Illness doesn’t ask whether you have documents."
Maliha, a young refugee woman from Afghanistan, said:
"Since childhood, I dreamed of becoming a doctor. Now I’m completing my residency in obstetrics. Kyrgyzstan has become my home, but as a mandate refugee, I can’t be officially employed. I want to contribute to this country and help other women. Every woman and child deserves safety and care — regardless of their passport."
Midwives are essential frontline responders in communities facing natural disasters, conflict, and climate change impacts. They provide up to 90% of reproductive, maternal, newborn, and adolescent health services, ensuring continuity of care and managing crisis-related complications. Their expertise is vital for strengthening healthcare systems and building resilience.
Avazkan Akmatova, a midwife from Batken, shared her hopes for modern maternity wards and stronger state support:
"We work on the frontlines, especially during crises. Sometimes we are left alone, without medicine or proper conditions, but we never abandon our mission — to save the lives of mothers and newborns."
Her colleague from Talas, Gulbu Bektursunova, also highlighted the significance of the SGBP:
"During the Batken crisis, we voluntarily went to help. Women received aid thanks to the State Benefit Program — it was a matter of life and death. These mechanisms build trust and save lives."
The event discussed global practices in maternal health during resource-constrained emergencies, strategies for increasing midwives’ awareness of the SGBP, and the need for inter-agency cooperation to remove legal and administrative barriers.
Ulukan Aidarova, Legal Officer at UNHCR in Kyrgyzstan, noted:
"Ensuring healthcare access is an act of protection, especially for refugee and stateless women. The SGBP should serve everyone residing in the country — including those without passports but in need of medical care."
UNFPA and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration with government bodies to expand coverage and improve the SGBP’s implementation — so that no woman is left without care due to her legal status.
