05.05.2025

This year, “Courage to be the First” Corporate Foundation, the organizer of Almaty Marathon, together with AYALA Charity Foundation donated specialized diagnostic equipment to two perinatal centers in Shymkent and Turkestan region. The total assistance amounted to 106,241,284 tenge. This is part of a large-scale project aimed at reducing infant disability in the region with the highest birth rate in Kazakhstan

In 2024, 30,973 children were born in Turkestan Region — this is more than in any other region of Kazakhstan. Modern medicine makes it possible to detect congenital abnormalities in time and reduce the risk of infant disability. For example, “One Day Clinic” project helps to diagnose pathologies during pregnancy, and I Can See the World helps to diagnose them immediately after birth.

Last year, Courage to be the First Corporate Foundation and AYALA Charity Foundation have joined the initiatives in Shymkent and Turkestan region. They allocated 106,241,284 tenge to these projects — the funds they managed to raised thank to the entry fees from the participants of Almaty Marathon and contributions of the partners.

Within the framework of “One Day Clinic” project, the Foundations installed laboratory equipment for FISH-diagnostics for 79,541,284 Tenge at Regional Perinatal Centre No. 2 in Turkestan region. This is a microscope that detects chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus early in pregnancy and identifies congenital abnormalities such as Down, Patau, Edwards, Sherechevsky-Turner and Klinefelter syndromes. The One Day Clinic allows expectant mums to get all in-depth biochemical tests and expert ultrasound examination at one place in one day with the expenses covered by the Compulsory Social Health Insurance (CSHI).

“The microscope and laboratory equipment received from Almaty Marathon allows thousands of pregnant women to have all necessary examinations at our center on time at the expense of CSHI and gain hope for a healthy future for their children. Now, more than 500 expectant mothers in the region will undergo in-depth prenatal screening by the end of 2025. According to our estimates, the FISH-laboratory at the One Day Clinic will help to reduce the infant disability rate in Turkestan Region by 40 per cent over 15 years”, — Elmira Kozhakhmetova, Head of Turkestan Regional Perinatal Center No. 2, says.

For “I Can See the World” Project, a modern retinal camera was installed at the Shymkent City Perinatal Centre for 26,700,000 tenge. Retinopathy can lead to vision loss in 36 per cent of prematurely born babies, but early diagnostics with new equipment can reduce these risks. Each baby undergoes 2 to 8 examinations with the retinal camera, which can be only operated by a highly qualified neonatal ophthalmologist.

“From December to May, 150 newborn babies, including 20 with detected retinopathy of prematurity, were examined with the retinal camera at our center. We managed to save vision in all children with retinopathy thanks to early diagnosis with this camera and provided treatment. About 8,000 babies are born at our center every year, and now all of them can undergo accurate eye screening before they are discharged home and receive timely medical care if necessary”, — Gulbanu Syzdykova, Chief Medical Officer of Shymkent City Perinatal Center, notes.

We would like to note that “Courage to be the First” Corporate Foundation organizes the Almaty Marathon, the largest running event in Central Asia, for over 13 years. Every year, a portion of the entry fees is allocated to social initiatives: more than 30 such projects worth over 277 million tenge have been implemented in Almaty and Almaty Region since 2012.

“Every year thousands of Almaty Marathon athletes run in order to help positive changes for the better in our country. We are happy that our equipment has been working since the first days and helps doctors to keep little Kazakhstanis and possibly our future active marathon runners healthy. And we also believe that the health of the nation depends on a systematic approach in pediatric medicine”, — Saltanat Kazybayeva, Executive Director of Courage to be First Corporate Foundation, emphasized.

AYALA Charity Foundation is the only organization specializing in neonatology in Kazakhstan. Over 18 years of its operation the Foundation has raised more than 2.8 milliard tenge and equipped 67 pediatric intensive care units all over the country with modern medical equipment.

“Every child must have a chance to healthy life. Thank to our partnership with Almaty Marathon, we introduce advanced medical technologies where they are needed most — in the region with the highest birth rate. Availability of innovative therapies and diagnostic tools at the state perinatal centers will help to prevent disability in thousands of newborn children”, — Aidan Suleimenova, Founder and President of Ayala Charity Foundation, stated.

Since 2025, by taking part in any run organized by “Courage to be the First” Corporate Foundation you can support charitable projects aimed to reduce infant disability. The runners also may donate any amount for charity at the time of registration. You can already register for Astana Half Marathon, Almaty Marathon, today!