Kazakhstan doctors will be able to reduce the rate of morbidity and mortality of newborns. Currently, according to the director of the Center for Perinatology and Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Chapen Sarmuldayeva, an acute problem of pediatric medicine is hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). It is diagnosed in 47% of the pathological conditions of the neonatal period. HIE of newborns, occurring due to acute perinatal asphyxia, increases the risk of death by 20% and the risk of neuropsychological development by 30%. In severe HIE infants die in 60% of cases and almost all survived children become disabled.

In 2017 the “AYALA” charity fund launched the “Controlled hypothermia” project. Within its framework two hypothermic apparatus Tecotern neo were acquired, costing 11,350,000 tenge each. They are installed in the Center for Maternal and Child Health in Astana and in the Center for Perinatology and Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in Almaty. The devices are designed for controlled treatment procedures, using cooling and heating the entire body or its parts of newborns. Also with the support of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan an innovative method for the treatment of HIE was introduced for the first time in Kazakhstan.

The “Controlled hypothermia” project included several stages: the development of methodical recommendations for the use of the hypothermia apparatus in cooperation with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan (available for download from the website of the foundation http://www.ayala.kz/redesign2/index.php/ru/programs-rus/med-book-rus), the purchase and installation of devices, training of specialists in maternity hospitals and perinatal centers with the involvement of foreign trainers.

It should be noted that currently the most effective method of preventing adverse neurological outcomes in these conditions is controlled hypothermia. This is a medical technique that allows controlling the temperature of a brain or the whole body of a patient. This is especially important in stressful situations and complex medical interventions. Lowering the temperature of a brain with respiratory disorders, heart surgeries with artificial circulation allows the brain cells to “rest” and prevent the subsequent development of severe encephalopathy. And this is the prevention of mental disorders of a child in the future.

For many years our long-standing partners have supported projects of the “AYALA” foundation in the sphere of children's medicine. Funds for the purchase and medical training were allocated by our long-standing partners and sponsors Chevron and ADD Capital. Also 389 people participated in the “Astana Marathon 2017” to support the project. The employees of ArcelorMittal Temirtau JSC, Temirzholenergo LLP, ATFBank JSC, Interlog multimodal, Tsesnabank JSC, NOMAD Insurance JSC have improved their performance in the race, these companies acted as corporate participants of the marathon. Their contributions to the “Controlled hypothermia” project made possible to raise 2 434 200 tenge.

Special thanks to the organizer of the annual “Astana marathon” - One Steppe Ahead company for the opportunity to raise funds for the projects of our foundation.

Practical trainings for neonatology doctors and nurses from maternity hospitals and hospitals in Kazakhstan were held at the Perinatology and Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in Almaty on November 22-23 and 27-28. Doctors and nurses learned about innovative methods of fighting against HIE, and learned how to work with the apparatus of hypothermia. On the last day of the seminar there was a solemn presentation of the apparatus to the Center for Perinatology and Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in Almaty.

 Download all images