27.10.2022

Through this assistance, ten Perinatal Centres in Kazakhstan received modern diagnostic equipment for ophthalmological screening in 2022. In just six months, 1,265 newborns haved had eye examinations, of whom 181 children were diagnosed with retinopathy. Ophthalmologists were able to save the sight of nine children through laser photocoagulation of the retina using equipment donated by AYALA CF.

According to Kazakhstani doctors’ data about 40% of babies born prematurely suffer from retinopathy, an eye disease that leads to irreversible loss of vision in premature newborns.

There are no external signs of retinopathy. Only a specialized and trained ophthalmologist using special equipment (ophthalmoscope) can see the early manifestations of this disease. Until 2022, the provision of Perinatal and Research Centres of Kazakhstan with equipment for early screening of retinopathy suffered from very serious shortcomings, as it was only installed in 4 centres. The situation was aggravated by the lack of a Clinical Protocol approved by the RoK Ministry of Healthcare for injection treatment of fulminant forms of retinopathy, and for this reason the number of children completely losing their vision grew rapidly every year.

In October 2012, Aidan Suleimenova, founder and president of AYALA Charity Foundation joined in the resolution of these issues. Meetings were held with Zhandos Burkitbaev, Vice Minister of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Jointly with Magripa Yembergenova, Head of the Department of Mother and Child Health Protrction of the RoK Ministry of Healthcare, a comprehensive analysis of the needs of Kazakhstan Perinatal Centres was carried out both on equipment for ophthalmological screening of newborns and on personnel.

“In Kazakhstan, 42 Perinatal Centres where premature newborns are born have only 23 ophthalmologists who can conduct ophthalmological screening to identify retinopathy in such children. We understood that it was necessary to provide screening equipment, first of all to the centres where these specialized doctors work. Therefore, together with two sponsors, we focused on 11 Perinatal Centres and the Oblast Ophthalmological Hospital of Atyrau. The result exceeded all our expectations — more than 1,200 newborns have been diagnosed in six months. Moreover, screening helped identify not only retinopathy. For example, in Atyrau, 74 out of 136 children were found to have serious vision pathologies not related to retinopathy. Detection of these eye pathologies at an early stage helped doctors begin early treatment and preserve children’s good vision. This is the best result that can be obtained from the productive interaction of the charity Foundation, the Ministry of Healthcare and state medical centres,”noted Aidan Suleimenova, President of AYALA Charity Foundation

In addition to ophthalmoscopes, three Obladst Perinatal Centres in the cities of Aktobe, Semey and Taraz had units for laser coagulation of the retina in newborns diagnosed with retinopathy installed on the fees received by AYALA Foundation through boxes. This equipment, worth more than 52 million tenge, in the hands of experienced ophthalmological surgeons helped save the vision of 9 premature newborns.

In September, the Ministry of Healthcare approved the Clinical Protocol for intravitreal administration of Lucentis to newborns, which, according to ophthalmologists, was a real breakthrough in the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity in Kazakhstan.

“Just a few years ago, everything that we now have: ultra-modern binocular ophthalmoscopes, laser systems for virtually the only method of treating blindness in children, a clinical protocol for the treatment of retinopathy through the injection of Lucentis — was an unattainable dream for us. We have the opportunity to help premature babies see the world in bright colors now, and give their families joy and happiness. We thank Aidan Suleimenova for that we have enormous opportunities to provide high-quality ophthalmological care to children, in which many specialists did not believe,” stresed Asel Usenbaevna Sharipova, Candidate of Medical Sciences, ophthalmologist at the Research Institute of Eye Diseases of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Aidan Suleimenova, a former general practitioner, has been involved in charitable projects in children’s healthcare for 15 years. She directs her main assistance to support of the state’s efforts to reduce child mortality and disability in Kazakhstan. Since 2007, using 1.5 billion tenge of her personal funds, the intensive care units of 30 children’s multidisciplinary hospitals and perinatal Centres have been equipped with equipment that preserves not only the life, but also the functional health of children. Including for the project to reduce the visual impairment of children due to retinopathy of prematurity, the president of AYALA Charity Foundation allocated 28,950,000 tenge, of which 16,810,000 tenge in 2022 for equipment for ophthalmological screening, and 12,140,000 tenge for a retinal camera at the City Perinatal Centre of Almaty.