Marking a milestone in diabetes care in Kyrgyzstan

The WHO-World Diabetes Foundation project in Kyrgyzstan, launched to address the country's rising burden of diabetes and its complications, concludes its 3-year phase having trained over 200 health-care workers and 119 nurses. The initiative has equipped them with specialized skills to deliver improved, person-centred care, and has supplied essential equipment including fundus cameras, ophthalmoscopes and glucose monitors to health facilities across the country.

Diabetic retinopathy remains the leading cause of blindness among working-age people in Kyrgyzstan, where over 75 000 individuals live with diabetes. Alarmingly, the incidence of diabetes has doubled in the past decade. The critical need for continued efforts is further underscored by new WHO data released on World Diabetes Day (14 November) revealing the global scale of the diabetes epidemic and the urgent call to bridge treatment gaps.

Project achievements

Throughout the initiative, policy dialogues, workshops and international collaborations fostered closer engagement among patients, health-care providers and policy-makers, advancing the national agenda for diabetes prevention and care.

"Through this project, WHO and the World Diabetes Foundation have demonstrated the power of collaboration, equipping hundreds of health-care professionals with the skills and tools to provide better, person-centred care," explained Dr Liviu Vedrasco, WHO Representative in Kyrgyzstan.

"These efforts mark a significant step forward in reducing the impact of diabetes and its complications in Kyrgyzstan, but our work is far from over. Together, we must continue to build on these achievements to ensure sustainable solutions that benefit everyone living with or at risk of diabetes."

Local authorities have praised the project's achievements, recognizing its contribution to safeguarding public health and addressing one of Kyrgyzstan's most pressing health challenges. WHO and its partners reaffirm their commitment to supporting sustainable and equitable solutions for diabetes care in Kyrgyzstan.