18.07.2025

The AYALA Charity Foundation, in collaboration with INPEX North Caspian Sea, Ltd., has donated essential medical equipment to the Atyrau Regional Perinatal Center to support the timely diagnosis and treatment of neonatal jaundice—a potentially dangerous condition in newborns. As part of this donation, the center has received phototherapy lamps and bilirubinometers, which will help reduce the risk of lifelong disabilities in newborns.

Despite its seemingly harmless name, neonatal jaundice can lead to toxic damage to the liver and other vital organs of a newborn. If not diagnosed and treated in time, it can result in severe complications, including cerebral palsy, seizures, and disability.

Phototherapy is a simple yet highly effective treatment method: the blue light emitted by the lamp breaks down toxic bilirubin in the infant’s blood, allowing it to be naturally eliminated without the need for medication. However, for the treatment to be effective, the baby must remain under the lamp continuously for several hours. As a result, the demand for such equipment at the Atyrau Regional Perinatal Center remains consistently high.

“Each year, our center handles nearly 10,000 births. We receive all complicated pregnancies and preterm births from district centers,” said Kazbek Aizharikovich Yermagambetov, Director of the Atyrau Regional Perinatal Center.

“Up to 25 babies can be born in a single day. Jaundice typically appears on the third day in full-term newborns and on the fifth or sixth day in preterm infants. In most cases, it resolves on its own, but some cases develop into toxic forms that pose serious risks, as they are difficult to distinguish from physiological neonatal jaundice. Bilirubinometers allow us to safely and quickly measure bilirubin levels through the skin. If the levels are above normal, we immediately begin phototherapy. Thanks to this donation from INPEX, we can provide treatment to more infants, ensuring that mothers no longer have to wait in line for the lamps. This support directly impacts the health and quality of life of newborns in Atyrau.”

INPEX North Caspian Sea, Ltd. emphasized its dedication to supporting initiatives that enhance healthcare services in Kazakhstan.

“Healthcare support is a key focus of INPEX North Caspian Sea, Ltd.’s corporate social responsibility efforts. Equipping the perinatal center with modern medical devices is an investment in the future health and well-being of the youngest residents of the region where we operate,” said Shojiro Seto, Director of the INPEX North Caspian Sea, Ltd. branch in Kazakhstan.

INPEX North Caspian Sea, Ltd. has been participating in the Kashagan oil field and other oil fields development, together with project partners, since September 1998 under the North Caspian Sea Production Sharing Agreement (NCSPSA). The project is operated by NCOC (North Caspian Operating Company), which is producing crude oil, natural gas and sulphur from Kashagan oil field.

For over 18 years, the AYALA Charity Foundation, in partnership with donors, has been supporting perinatal centers and maternity hospitals across Kazakhstan by providing phototherapy lamps as part of the “Breathe, Baby” project. This initiative helps the government reduce infant mortality and disability rates in Kazakhstan.

“Since our foundation was established, we have donated approximately 140 phototherapy lamps to nearly all obstetric facilities in Kazakhstan. These devices have helped save tens of thousands of children from disability and severe health complications,” said Aidan Suleymenova, Founder and President of the AYALA Charity Foundation.

“We sincerely thank INPEX North Caspian Sea, Ltd. for providing this life-saving equipment for newborns at the Atyrau Perinatal Center. We are pleased that, through our joint efforts, we are contributing to a healthier future for Kazakhstan.”

Since 2011, the AYALA Foundation has invested over 189,4 million tenge in equipping four medical institutions in the Atyrau region, contributing to the prevention of early neonatal mortality and childhood disabilities.

A Shared Commitment to a Healthier Future

This collaboration between the AYALA Charity Foundation and INPEX North Caspian Sea, Ltd. demonstrates the importance of partnerships in advancing neonatal medicine. By joining forces, we take another step toward ensuring that every child in Kazakhstan has the best chance at a healthy start in life.