Press Releases
July 30, 2010
In late June, CitiHope was tasked to lead the USAID reponse to the ethnic-based crisis rocking southern Kyrgyzstan. There are estimates of over 300,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees from Osh, Jalalabad, and surrounding regions, the majority of whom are ethnic Uzbek. Since early July, CitiHope's Bishkek Office has been coordinating rapid needs assessments and developing a 6-month work plan to provide essential medicines and medical supplies, secure clean water and sanitation, offer individual and community psychological counseling for trauma and PTSD, and provide mother-child reproductive health services. Many IDPs have moved from rural 'camps' into urban centers like Osh City, where CitiHope will deploy medical staff, mental health professionals, philologists, and trainers to reach the thousands of IDPs unable to return home.
To donate to this urgent post-conflict effort, and to read more about CitiHope's 13 years in Kyrgyzstan, click here.
April 20, 2010
During the first several weeks of April 2010, CitiHope International’s Central Asia office, located in Bishkek Kyrgyzstan, played a key role in responding to the aftermath of political instability and regime change in the small former Soviet nation bordering China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
Partnering with USAID and in close cooperation with the local US Embassy, CitiHope (CHI-Bishkek) distributed Emergency Medical Supplies to Hospitals located in Bishkek City, Naryn Oblast and Talas Oblast.
Ten hospital recipients were determined based on consultations with the Kyrgyz Ministry of Health (MOH) authorities and USAID Health Specialists:
- The National Hospital
- The National Surgical Centre
- Bishkek Trauma Centre
- National Child Hospital
- Bishkek Emergency Child Hospital
- Bishkek Municipal Hospital # 1
- Chui Joint oblast Hospital
- Naryn Joint oblast Hospital
- Talas Joint oblast
- Sokuluk District Hospital
In order to properly distribute the medical supplies, CHI-Bishkek estimated the number of patients with gunshot injures being treated in each facility. The total number of hospitalized patients with gunshot injures exceeded 700. All of the patients received severe gunshot injures with massive damage in internal organs and bone system.
This relief is being carried out as a two-component program:
- First, basic medical supplies distribution such as syringes, intravenous injection systems, bandages, plaster bandages (37 items of medical supplies)
- Second is the supply of special equipment and instruments to make reconstructive surgical operations possible for more than 150 patients with severe extremities damages.
The first component’s distribution has been completed in Bishkek City, and is in process in Naryn and Talas. CHI-Bishkek will oversee and conduct monitoring of the medical supply usage, in cooperation with health authorities of each hospital.
The second component is in process, instruments and equipment has been ordered and CHI-Bishkek is awaiting delivery.
USAID and the US Embassy planned for an official Handover Ceremony on 16th of April 2010 with participation H.E. Tatiana C. Gfoeller, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kyrgyz Republic, Ms. Pat R. Shapiro, Country Director, USAID/CAR in the Kyrgyz Republic, Ms. Damira A. Niyazalieva, Acting Minister of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Madamin M. Karataev, Deputy Minister of Health, and Mr. Sabyrbek A. Djumabekov, Director of Bishkek Scientific and Research Center of Traumatology and Orthopedy, as well as employees of the hospital. Unfortunately, the event was canceled late evening on the 15th of April by US Embassy due to security issues.
The actual Handover Ceremony was rescheduled to April 20, and was held at the Bishkek Trauma Center. This institution was chosen as the main recipient of relief because it is treating the majority of victims. Participants included US Abmassador Gfoeller, USAID’s Regional Health Coordinator from Almaty Kazakhstan, Dinara Nijazalieva from the Kyrgyz Ministry of Health, Deputy Minister of Health Madamin Karataev, Directors and Head Doctors of the other nine hospitals receiving humanitarian assistance, local mass media representatives, and Bishkek Trauma Center staff, Bibira Acmoldoevna (CHAP) and Goulmira Sydykova (CHI).
CHI-Bishkek continues to work in close cooperation with the Kyrgyz MOH, USAID and other international organizations which are also providing support. For more information contact CitiHope’s Development Office in Washington DC, providing US support and program backstopping through This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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