17.12.2025

The individual breast milk bank has been established in Turkestan; it’s a very important project to save and strengthen the health of premature and seriously ill newborns in the region with the highest birth rate in the country.

Its opening at the Regional Perinatal Center No.3 was the second one in Kazakhstan after Almaty and was implemented by AYALA Charity Foundation, and supported by some partners: Ernst & Young, PTC Holding, DSF, as well as due to the fund raising as the part of the charitable initiative “You eat – we give” in the hotels: St. Regis Astana, Ritz Carlton Astana, Ritz Carlton Almaty and Sheraton Astana. The refrigeration equipment was provided by Samsung Electronics. Philips Avent, the recognized expert in the field of breastfeeding, donated sterilizers, heaters, breast pumps, bottles, milk storage bags and containers to the project.

The project permits to uptake the milk individually from mothers and permits to provide each premature newborn with milk from their own mother only. Supported by the partners, a fully equipped and comfortable breast milk pumping room was established in the perinatal center of Turkestan: clinical breast pumps, comfortable armchairs, medical furniture, freezer and other necessary accessories — everything required to provide infants with the most valuable nutrition. Repair was carried out at the expense of budgetary funds.

“Turkestan region has been the leader in the population growth in the country for some years. Last year, more than 60,000 infants were born in our region, and 10,000 infants were born in our center. We serve two cities: Turkestan and Kentau, as well as Sozak, Otyrar and Savran districts with a total population of 545,000 people. We successfully care for children with a critically low body weight. This year, we saved 32 infants out of 824 premature newborns with a weight from 500 to 900 grams. 207 babies were treated in the intensive care this year. In hospital settings, when a child cannot be breastfed for health reasons, the individual breast milk bank helps us to provide each infant with his own mother’s milk. This is critically important for the immunity and increased life chances. I thank AYALA Charity Foundation and all partners for this assistance,” said Ardak Kerimkhanovich Ayazbekov, the Head of the Regional Perinatal Center No.3 of Turkestan region.

WHO recognized the breast milk as the optimal nutrition for newborns: it contains a balanced complex of nutrients and enzymes required for the growth, development and formation of a stable immune system of the child. Its unique composition protects the infants from infections and promotes a long-term health.

In April of this year, AYALA Charity Foundation opened a similar individual breast milk bank in Almaty to support the initiative of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Now the Turkestan region has joined the regions where premature newborns are provided with the best natural nutrition from the first days of life.

“The goal of my foundation is helping the state to save the lives of newborns in Kazakhstan. I am glad that every premature infant born in the Regional Perinatal Center No.3 of Turkestan region will be provided with milk from its own mother — a unique resource for the formation of immunity and survival. I am sure that this project will help even more families to hear the long-awaited children’s laughter at home,” said Aidan Suleymenova, the Founder and President of AYALA Charity Foundation.