06.03.2026

State-of-the-art laser equipment Vitra 810 for treatment of retinopathy of prematurity has been installed at Regional Perinatal Center No. 3 in Turkistan. The device enables timely intervention to stop progression of the disease and preserve vision in infants. Surgeries can now be performed locally in Turkistan, without the need to transport children to other cities. Over 200 premature newborns will be able to receive this life-changing care annually. The project was implemented by “Courage to Be First” Corporate Foundation in partnership with AYALA Charity Foundation.

The project addresses one of the most pressing problems in neonatology — treatment of retinopathy of prematurity. Without timely diagnosis and therapy, the disease can lead to complete and irreversible blindness. According to doctors, up to 36% of premature infants face this diagnosis. Moreover, the early stages of the disease have no external symptoms and can only be detected during specialized ophthalmological examination.

“The project continues the systematic work we began in 2024 together with AYALA Foundation to reduce infant disability in the region with the highest population growth rate in the country. The launch of the cutting-edge laser technology in Turkistan is a step to ensure that patients can be provided with timely assistance close to their home. It is fundamentally important for us to ensure equal access to quality medical care throughout the country, because every such decision is crucial for a child’s destiny, their eyesight, and their future quality of life,” noted Saltanat Kazybayeva, Executive Director of “Courage to Be First” Corporate Foundation.

In the Turkistan Region, more than 60,000 children are born every year. Until recently, the region lacked a comprehensive system for ophthalmological screening and treatment of retinopathy of prematurity. Doctors worked with minimal equipment, and when severe cases were identified, infants were referred to other cities. Such patient routing took time and created additional risks for vulnerable newborns.

Earlier, a retinal camera was installed at Regional Perinatal Center No. 3, which made it possible to organize regular screening for premature infants. The next key stage of the project was delivery of Vitra 810 ophthalmic laser system. This set of equipment enables to perform diagnosis and treatment directly in Turkistan — without the need to transport children to Shymkent or Almaty.

Ardak Ayazbekov, Head of Regional Perinatal Center No. 3 in Turkistan, emphasizes that laser photocoagulation of the retina in newborns is the modern global standard for treatment of retinopathy of prematurity:

“This high-precision equipment allows us to stop the pathological growth of blood vessels and preserve vision. The launch of laser treatment for retinopathy means a fundamentally new level of medical care for our center. We will be able now to perform surgeries even on extremely premature infants without losing precious time, which directly impacts a favorable outcome of the disease.”

Surgeries are performed on a regular basis — a neonatal ophthalmic surgeon from Shymkent visits the center once a week. A specialist from Regional Perinatal Center No. 3 performs initial examinations, diagnostics, and patient preparation for laser intervention. Over 10,000 children are born at the center annually, of whom 800 to 1,000 are premature. More than 200 cases per year require urgent medical intervention, where time is measured in hours.

“I Can See the World” project is five years old this year. Its main result is nearly zero visual disability among premature infants in the regions where our equipment has been installed and trained ophthalmologists are working. We thank “Courage to Be First” Corporate Foundation for making treatment of this dangerous disease accessible to all children in the Turkistan Region — in a timely manner and close to home. Together, we give children a chance to see this world,” emphasized Aidan Suleimenova, Founder and President of AYALA Charity Foundation.

“I Can See the World” project is in line with the priorities of state policy in the field of child health protection and the recommendations of the World Health Organization for prevention and treatment of retinopathy of prematurity. The laser equipment will help prevent development of blindness and severe visual impairments in thousands of children in the region over the next 10-15 years.

It should be noted that “Courage to Be First” Corporate Foundation has been organizing Almaty Marathon, the largest running event in Central Asia, for over 14 years. A part of the proceeds from entry fees is allocated annually to social initiatives. Since 2012, more than 30 charitable projects for the total amount of over 300 million tenge have been implemented in Almaty and Almaty Region.

In 2024, the Foundation began its partnership with AYALA Charity Foundation and implemented two children’s healthcare projects totaling 106,241,284 tenge – “I Can See the World” and “One-Day Clinic”.

As part of “I Can See the World” project, a retinal camera for diagnosing retinopathy in premature infants has been installed at the Shymkent City Perinatal Center. Over the course of 10–15 years, the equipment will help preserve eyesight for more than 24,000 children.

“One-Day Clinic” project is implemented at Regional Perinatal Center No. 2 in the Turkistan Region and is aimed at early diagnosis of genetic risks in pregnant women. Over the course of 15 years, it is planned to screen up to 30,000 women and reduce the rate of infant disability in the region by up to 40%.