Living in a deprived settlement presents many difficulties. Among them, access to basic health services, which is guaranteed by the Constitution, can become a real obstacle course. Thanks to Swiss support, more than 600 people have been able to register at a Family Medicine Center and obtain health care services.

The project has been implemented by the local NGOs PA “Kyrgyz Family Planning Alliance” in partnership with PA “Arysh”, PA “Child Protection Center” and NGO “Advocacy Center for Human Rights”. It helped to set up a system to receive medical services in primary health care organizations through a referral document. Once registered, a person gets an access to basic health services and can get the compulsory health insurance. During two months, in September and October 2020, more than 600 internal migrants in Osh and Bishkek have been registered.

In addition, at the peak of the first wave, 6,000 low-income families with children living in 12 deprived settlements in Bishkek and 11 in Osh received food packages and personal protective and hygienic equipment for COVID-19 prevention.

The NGOs also worked with them to prevent domestic violence and child suicides through psychosocial support. Talks and consultations with parents on methods of non-violent parenting took place. A participant of the training explains that thanks to this training, she listen more to her children and discuss with them about their future. Another participant said: “I have learned what psychological violence is. Before I thought that only physical violence exists”. Detection system was put in place with the neighborhood heads and community leaders. They were informed about what to do and where to turn in cases of domestic violence for women and children. 

The support was provided in the framework of the Public Service Improvement Project, which is financed by the Swiss Government and implemented by Helvetas Kyrgyzstan and the Development Policy Institute.

The grant aid covers the following three components:

1. 4 100 000 KGS – financial support  for 26 local service providers;
2. 439400 KGS – support to purchase personal protective equipment for the municipalities and service providers 
3. 1 270 000 KGS – support to  municipalities in conducting the information campaigns

The financial aid for the service providers is allocated as subsidies through the local budgets. These subsidies will partially compensate the lack of providers’ regular income in the II-III quarters of 2020 due to difficult economic situation caused by the COVID crisis. The financial support will be used to cover the urgent expenses incurred by the local service providers (waste collection, drinking water) in the mentioned period.

To prevent the further spread of the virus and to protect the employees and local service providers in the municipalities, the project purchased 260 sets of PPE, including reusable protective suits, glasses, face shields and three layer medical masks.

The project also allocates funds for campaigns. It raises awareness on the importance of preventive hygiene measures and the important role of the local service providers in the prevention of the epidemic spreadingIt also appeals to citizens’ sense of  social responsibility related to the due bill payments for the delivered services in order to keep the providers and services sustinable and continue to receive them.

The Swiss grant program helps the targeted municipalities in the two regions to support local service providers and prevent their bankruptcy along with service suspension at the local level.