The Government of Switzerland allocated CHF 50’000 to protect the rights and wellbeing of elderly people. The support includes measures to inform and prevent COVID-19 infection, to prevent violence against elderly and to improve access to health and social protection services. This work is being conducted in collaboration with the Ministries of Health and Social Protection of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Currently, food packages and sanitary items are being distributed by the implementing partners HelpAge International in Kyrgyzstan, PA Resource Center for the Elderly People, ADRA-Kyrgyzstan and PF Babushka Adoption. 

The selection of beneficiaries was done with the support of local authorities and self-help groups for elderly people. It was based on income criteria and health conditions.

Today the Swiss Ambassador Véronique Hulmann participated in a food distribution in Kant. During her visit she highlighted the importance of providing aid to the most vulnerable people and congratulated representatives of the self-help groups for their outstanding commitment. The work of the volunteers who provide support and comfort to vulnerable people and contribute to find solutions to their concerns in all times is crucial. It contributes to enhance solidarity and social justice in the Kyrgyz Republic. She also thanks project partners for their work and commitment.

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.