Laser Treatment Launched in Turkistan to Save Sight of Premature Infants

Advanced Vitra 810 laser has been installed at the Regional Perinatal Centre No.3 in Turkistan for the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity. The device enables doctors to halt the progression of the disease in a timely manner and preserve the child’s vision. Procedures can now be performed in Turkistan, eliminating the need to transfer infants to other cities for treatment. More than 200 premature infants will be able to receive aid every year. The project has been implemented by “Courage to be the First” Corporate Fund together with AYALA Charitable Foundation.

The project resolves one of the most genuine concerns of neonatology – treating retinopathy in premature infants. When not being diagnosed and treated timely, this disease can lead to total and irreversible blindness. As doctors inform, up to 36% of premature infants have faced this diagnosis. Furthermore, early stages of the disease do not have any visible symptoms and it can only be detected through specialised ophthalmological examination.

“This project continues the systematic work that we started in 2024 together with AYALA Foundation to reduce infant disability level in the region where the country has the highest population increase. The launch of advanced laser technology in Turkistan marks an important step towards ensuring that specialised care is delivered promptly and close to home. It is fundamentally important for us to ensure equal access to high-quality medical care across the country because behind every such decision lies a child’s future – their vision and overall quality of life,” says Saltanat Kazybayeva, Executive Director of “Courage to be the First” Corporate Fund.

Every year more than 60 thousand babies are born in Turkistan Region. Until recently, the region lacked a comprehensive system for ophthalmological screening and treatment of retinopathy of prematurity. Doctors had to work with minimum equipment and send babies to other cities when detecting some serious cases. Such patient transfers were time-consuming and created additional risks for vulnerable newborns.

Previously, a RetCam was installed at the Regional Perinatal Centre No.3, enabling regular screening of premature infants. The next key stage of the project was the delivery of the Vitra 810 ophthalmic laser system. The equipment enables to diagnose and treat in Turkistan on-the-spot with no need to transfer children to Shymkent or Almaty.

Ardak Ayazbekov, Director of the Regional Perinatal Centre No.3 in Turkistan, highlights that laser retina coagulation of newborns is a modern international standard of treating retinopathy:

“This highly-accurate equipment allows stopping vessel cacogenesis and saving the eyesight. The launch of laser treatment of retinopathy is a breakthrough level of medical aid for our centre. We will be able to perform operations to even premature infants not wasting time, and that has a direct positive impact on the disease outcome.”

The operations are carried out regularly – once a week a neonatal eye surgeon from Shymkent visits the Centre. A specialist from the Regional Perinatal Centre No.3 makes pre-assessment, diagnostics and prepares a patient to laser interference. Every year the Centre helps deliver more than 10 thousand babies, and 800–1000 of them are premature. 200 and more cases a year require urgent medical intervention, where every hour counts.

“This year, the ‘I See the World’ project marks its fifth anniversary. Its main result is an almost zero rate of eyesight disability among premature infants in the regions where our equipment is installed and trained ophthalmologists are practising. We express our appreciation to “Courage to be the First” Corporate Fund for making treatment of this dangerous disease available to every baby in Turkistan Region – all promptly and close to home. Together we give the babies a chance to see the world,” notes Aidan Suleimenova, founder and president of AYALA Charitable Foundation.

The ‘I See the World’ project complies with the priorities set in the state policy in the field of Children’s Health and with the recommendations from the World Health Organization as relate to prevention and treatment of retinopathy in premature infants. The laser equipment will allow to prevent blindness development and severe eye disorders among thousands of children in the region over next 10–15 years.

It is worth noting that “Courage to be the First” Corporate Fund has been organising the largest running event in Central Asia – the Almaty Marathon – for over 14 years. A part of entry fees goes to social initiatives every year. Since 2012, more than 30 charity projects amounting to KZT 300M+ have been implemented in Almaty and Almaty Region.

In 2024б the Fund started its cooperation with AYALA Charitable Foundation and implemented two children’s health projects amounting to a total of KZT 106,241,284. They are 'I See the World' and 'One Day Clinic'.

As part of the ‘I See the World’ project, a RetCam has been installed at Shymkent City Perinatal Centre for diagnosis of retinopathy in premature infants. This equipment will allow saving eyesight of more than 24,000 children in 10–15 years.

The ‘One Day Clinic’ project is being implemented at the Regional Perinatal Centre No.2 in Turkistan Region and focuses on the early diagnosis of genetic risks in pregnant women. The plans are to examine up to 30,000 women over 15 years and reduce the rate of infant disability in the region down to 40%.