Bishkek – May 15, 2025 – Today, a press brunch is being held for journalists and bloggers in honor of Mother’s Day in the Kyrgyz Republic. The event is organized with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Ministry of Health, and the Mandatory Health Insurance Fund (MHIF) of the Kyrgyz Republic. The purpose of the meeting is to draw attention to issues of safe motherhood in Kyrgyzstan and to inform the public about the State Guarantee Program for pregnant women.
The press brunch brought together medical experts in maternal health, representatives of state and international organizations, and journalists and bloggers.
Participants were shown videos illustrating the scale of investment in maternal health. The discussion covered key elements of safe motherhood: from family planning to qualified postpartum care.
“Safe motherhood is not only a medical issue but a human rights issue." Every woman in the Kyrgyz Republic has the right to quality medical care and support during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period,” emphasized Baktybek Kaynazarov, Head of the UNFPA Office.
Particular attention was paid to the role of the healthcare system in ensuring women's rights to health, well-being, and quality medical support at all stages of pregnancy and childbirth.
“The State Guarantee Program provides free hospitalization for childbirth. If a pregnant woman is hospitalized for another diagnosis, not childbirth, she pays an average co-payment level like insured citizens, because during pregnancy they are issued a free Mandatory Health Insurance policy so they can become insured,” noted Jypara Azizbekova, Head of the Program Implementation Department of MHIF.
A separate part of the event was dedicated to safe and healthy motherhood, understood as the active involvement of both parents in pregnancy planning, ensuring safe childbirth, and caring for the child in the postpartum period, with the involvement of close relatives to create a supportive environment for mother and baby.
“Fatherhood and motherhood come with a strong desire to see your children wanted, happy, and healthy. This is a universal value that unites families worldwide. For every mother, it is extremely important to know how to properly prepare for childbirth and ensure a comfortable recovery for herself and her baby,” said Nurgul Smankulova, UNFPA reproductive health expert.
To raise public awareness, UNFPA, together with national partners, conducted information sessions covering a range of topics: from reproductive and maternal health and family planning to pregnancy preparation and the nuances of the postpartum period.
The meeting became not only a platform for exchanging opinions and information, but also an effective support mechanism for women, with the goal that every family is surrounded by care and support from the very beginning of this amazing journey – parenthood. We believe that conscious and responsible parenthood is the key to a happy and healthy family, where confident and loving children grow up.
