25.08.2023

Owing to support of the Gasenergy gas station network, a modern laser unit appeared at the National Research Centre for Motherhood and Childhood in Astana. It will help ophthalmologists of this Centre save vision in prematurely born babies with retinopathy.

According to doctors’ data, in Kazakhstan, about 40% of babies born prematurely suffer from retinopathy, an eye disease that leads to irreversible loss of vision in premature newborns. To save them from complete blindness, a complex diagnostics as early as possible and then equally complex laser surgeries on the retina are required.

“We are pleased to help AYALA Charity Foundation in implementing the Retinopathy of Prematurity project that saves newborns in our country from complete blindness. Our company has been fruitfully cooperating with this Foundation for many years. Almost all gas stations in this network have boxes and QR signs of AYALA for our clients involvement into charitable activities. Since 2019, a charity event “1 liter = 1 tenge” has been held every weekend; since 2020, we are donating 10 tenge from each hot dog, hamburger and several types of coffee, with all this money is going to the projects of this Foundation. As a Kazakhstani network of gas stations we are interested in support of the children’s healthcare because it helps to shape and strengthen the health of future generations of our country,” said Omar Arturovich Mustafin, Operations Director of Avtogaz Trade LLP.

The funds from charitable assistance of Gasenergy in the amount of more than 47 million tenge helped AYALA Foundation purchase and donate a hypothermia unit to the Republican Research Centre for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology in Almaty, two laser units to the National Reseearch Centre for Motherhood and Childhood in Astana, and to the Perinatal Unit of Zhambyl Oblast Multidisciplinary Hospital in Taraz, and also a retinal camera to the Oblast Perinatal Centre of Kostanay city.

“We express our deep appreciation to the management of Gasenergy for their long-term partnership and trust in our Foundation. The equipment that we have donated thanks to your support will help save thousands of newborn children in Kazakhstan from disability in the next 5 years. This is a very important and valuable assistance to preserve the health of the nation,” stressed Aidan Suleimenova, founder and president of AYALA Charity Foundation.

The project on Retinopathy of Prematurity was started in October 2021 and is being implemented by AYALA Charity Foundation in accordance with the Memorandum of Cooperation signed with the RoK Ministry of Healthcare. As part of this memorandum, the Foundation has also contributed to the approval by the RoK Ministry of Healthcare of the Clinical Protocol for the intravitreal administration of angiogenesis inhibitors for the treatment of the fulminant form of retinopathy of prematurity.

For 1.5 years of project implementation, AYALA Foundation has raised and allocated more than 248 million tenge for the purchase and donation of diagnostic and surgical medical equipment, including 5 laser units, 5 retinal cameras, 14 ophthalmoscopes, as well as 84 vials of Lucentis to the state Research and Perinatal Centres in Kazakhstan. This helped to more than 2,000 newborn children have eye examinations using the Foundation’s equipment.