Diabetes and high blood pressure may lead to serious health harms when not treated and properly controlled by health care professionals and patients themselves. Jointly with the Ministry of Health, the Swiss project has prepared almost 700 family nurse trainers in health organizations in Chui, Naryn, Talas and Issyk-Kul to treat up to 45.000 registered patients.

The family nurses have taken over an important role in the education of patients helping them to have a healthier life. For now, 40% of all registered patients with type 2 diabetes and 35% of registered patients with hypertension in Naryn, Chui, Talas and Issyk-Kul oblasts are attending the Patient Education Classes. The patients will learn to better manage their diseases by receiving information on ways to cope with it, how to self-manage and avoid complications. In addition, the Swiss project helped to develop a mobile application for medical staff and patients.

The classes offered in local health facilities have been developed by the Association of Family Group Practitioners, Association of Cardiologists, Association of Endocrinologists, and approved by the Ministry of Health.

The Project "Effective Management and Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases in Kyrgyzstan" is financed by the Government of Switzerland to improve the health and wellbeing of the Kyrgyz population in the rural areas of Chui, Talas, Naryn, and Issyk-Kul regions of Kyrgyzstan.

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Hypertension is when the blood pressure is higher than normal, meaning a systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg and a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher. Hypertension may lead to serious health conditions such as heart diseases, heart attacks, strokes, and other serious medical conditions. 

Diabetes is a chronic health condition with elevated blood sugar (blood glucose) levels. Uncontrolled diabetes may lead to severe complications including eye problems and blindness, kidney disease, heart attacks, stroke, and even lower limb amputations. 

The funds will be used to support 80,000 people living in poverty. They will receive cash assistance in urban areas, with a possibility to participate in creating community assets and skills trainings for better job prospects and enhanced income opportunities. This approach will ensure that not only assistance is extended to the people whose livelihoods were impacted by the Pandemic adverse effects, but also give appropriate tools to make them better prepared and resilient to the future stresses. 

WFP in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Development will prioritize poor families who have lost their incomes and are forced to deplete family assets to meet their basic food needs and reduce expenses for other essential services.

“The Swiss Government and people of Switzerland are proud to stand together with Kyrgyzstan in supporting the most vulnerable people who are hit by the COVID-19 crises,” said Ambassador of Switzerland to the Kyrgyz Republic Véronique Hulmann. “Our partnership with WFP will support poorest families to sustain their livelihood through these difficult times.” 

“Thanks to the generous contribution from the Government of Switzerland, WFP is able to provide cash assistance to food insecure people in the urban and semi-urban areas giving them the freedom of choice with the added value of creating demand in the local markets” - remarked Andrea Bagnoli, WFP Country Director for the Kyrgyz Republic.

In April 2020, as an immediate response, Switzerland through WFP had already allocated CHF 200’000 to support social inpatient institutions and boarding schools across the country, benefiting more than 3’000 people (orphans, elderly and people with disabilities) for three months.