This competition is a countrywide action to cover male population with primary health care services to prevent or early diagnose noncommunicable diseases. School children had to bring male relatives over 18 years old to their local health facilities. In total more than 127,000 men have received a consultation.

Noncommunicable diseases are chronic, slowly progressing diseases. These include cardiovascular diseases, cancer, lung diseases and diabetes. Every second man in Kyrgyzstan smokes, drinks alcohol and/or is overweight and has high blood pressure. Men are at greater risk and statistics show that the rate of men going to health facilities is low, while mortality from noncommunicable diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases, is high.

According to the competition results, the Swiss project has awarded the following prizes to the schools:

• 11 refrigerators for school canteens
• 6 electric stoves with oven
• 17 interactive whiteboards
• 17 laptops
• 17 projectors
• 15 microwaves
• 5 sets of sports equipment
• 12 sets of sports equipment kits

The competition was timed to coincide with the "Be Responsible!" campaign, announced by the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic in February 2023 to identify risk factors of noncommunicable diseases among men. Special appointment hours for men were established, which helped to increase the availability of medical services.

The project “Effective Management and Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases in Kyrgyzstan”, financed by the Government of Switzerland, is aimed to improve the health and wellbeing of the Kyrgyz population in rural areas through equitable access to quality primary care services and promotion of healthier lifestyles. The first phase of the project covered Chui, Naryn, Talas and Issyk-Kul regions. Starting from July 2022 the project is implementing its activities in Osh, Jalal-Abad, Batken regions as well as in Bishkek and Osh cities. 

The "Francophonie Week" is the festival of the French language and cultures of the French-speaking countries, which is celebrated in the middle of March across the world. The organizers and partners have prepared a program for the broad public, which consists of 20 events. This year the topic is travelling. 

French is the fifth language spoken in the world, the third language for business, used by more than 300 million people on five continents, and also is known as the language of diplomacy. 88 countries are members of the International Organization of Francophonie, in 29 of which French is the official language.

The Francophonie Week will be launched on March 9 with a public screening of the French documentary film "The Snow Leopard" starting at 18:30 in Ala-Too Cinema (free entry).  

The Swiss documentary film "Ella Maillart's Extraordinary Journey" will be presented on March 17 at 18:00 at the National Historical Museum (203 Chui Ave.). The first part of the film describes the trip of Ella Maillart in the 1920 in Kyrgyzstan, cruising on the Issyk-Kul lake and then travelling by horse to the Tian Shan mountains and the Chinese border. 100 years later, François Perraudin, a Swiss photographer and movie maker, takes a similar approach describing what has changed or not in Kyrgyzstan, from the lake of Kol-Suu in the south east to the bears Isabelle in the Besh Tash natural reserve, over the rice milling in Uzgen and the petroglyphs of Saimaluu Tash. The movie gives insight in the Kyrgyz daily life as well as in the wildlife from the whole country. 

After the Swiss film a photo exhibition of Ella Maillart's journey through Kyrgyzstan will be presented (Free entry).

Screening of the Canadian film will be held on March 13 at 18:00, the Belgian film – March 14 at 18:00 at the Academy of Tourism (address: 99 Shabdan Baatyra street). Free entry.