09.12.2025

A One-Day Clinic has been fully equipped at the Atyrau Regional Perinatal Center. Now, the doctors are able to perform the most complex cytogenetic tests for early detection of congenital fetal genetic developmental abnormalities rapidly and with high accuracy. The goal of this initiative is to reduce the incidence of disability in children from birth. The project is being implemented by AYALA Charity Foundation with support from Chevron Corporation.

According to specialists, about 5-10% of pregnancies in Kazakhstan are associated with a risk of congenital developmental abnormalities in the fetus. Prenatal screening according to the international OSCAR (One Stop Clinic for Assessment of Risk) standard, or «One-Day Clinic», is conducted at the 12th week of pregnancy and allows women to undergo all necessary examinations within one day.

The One-Day Clinic has been operating at the Fetal Care Center of the Atyrau Regional Perinatal Center since the beginning of 2025. There are prenatal and neonatal screenings, an expert ultrasound diagnostics department, geneticist consultations, and psychological support services. With support from AYALA Foundation and Chevron Corporation, the Fetal Care Center received a modern microscope and a cytogenetics laboratory in November. This will significantly enhance the accuracy and speed of diagnosing chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus.

Meruert Aydarkhanova, Director of the Atyrau Regional Perinatal Center, notes that the new equipment will ensure the highest level of accuracy in cytogenetic testing: «We handle up to 8,000 deliveries annually — nearly 60% of the total patient flow at the region. Thanks to the support from Chevron Corporation, we now have world-class research equipment. Unlike conventional laboratory microscopes, the new device not only allows us to count chromosomes but also to see their structure, architecture, and cases of segment exchange between chromosomes. This enables our center to conduct the most complex genetic studies, which is particularly crucial for making clinical decisions in critical situations.»

The research microscope for studies using the FISH method, recognized as the «gold standard» in global genetics, enables prenatal cytogenetic analysis to detect the 5 most common congenital fetal abnormalities – Down syndrome, Patau syndrome, Edwards syndrome, Turner syndrome, and Klinefelter syndrome. If abnormalities are identified, doctors and expectant parents can choose the optimal pregnancy management strategy.

The first One-Day Clinic in a pilot format was opened in March 2024 at the Center for Perinatology and Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in Almaty. Equipment for it was also provided by AYALA Foundation with support from Chevron Corporation. The Almaty project was recognized as exemplary and began to be replicated in other regions of Kazakhstan, including Atyrau Oblast. Today, 22 One-Day Clinics are successfully operating across the country and cover over 100,000 women with in-depth genetic screening annually.

«Chevron actively supports projects aimed at developing healthcare system of Kazakhstan and improving the quality of medical services. We are pleased that all expectant mothers in Atyrau Oblast now have access to a full range of expert genetic diagnostics in the state medical center. I am confident that screening conducted accurately, quickly, and in line with the best global practices will allow reducing significantly the rates of congenital disabilities and infant mortality in the region in the near future,» comments Zhanar Koshpanova, Social Investment Advisor at Chevron.

There are two geneticists and two expert ultrasound diagnostic specialists at the One-Day Clinic at the Atyrau Regional Perinatal Center. All of them are certified according to international FMF, ISNS, and CDC standards. In total, approximately 200 prenatal ultrasound diagnostic doctors and 20 geneticists have been certified nationwide through the Ministry of Healthcare of Kazakhstan.

With the opening of the cytogenetics laboratory, a cytogeneticist has been employed to the center’s staff. She is currently undergoing a three-week training program at the Center for Maternity and Childhood in Astana. The training is organized as part of a joint project implemented by AYALA Charity Foundation and Chevron Corporation, which prioritize not only state-of-the-art equipment but also continuous professional development of healthcare specialists.

Aidan Suleimenova, Founder and President of AYALA Charity Foundation, emphasizes: «Since the first year of my Foundation’s work, I have been convinced that the most effective charitable projects are those that contribute to systemic changes in healthcare. By donating equipment to the One-Day Clinic in Atyrau Oblast, we are not simply equipping the Regional Perinatal Center with advanced medical technologies — we help the doctors in the region operate at the level of the world’s best standards in genetic screening, by continuously enhancing their professional competencies.»