Protecting the Reproductive Health of Adolescents and Youth Remains a Priority for the National Commission
As part of the monitoring of reproductive health among youth and adolescents, members of the National Commission on Women’s Affairs and Family and Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Gaukhar Nurakhmetova and Sunkar Khangeldina – conducted an inspection of Youth Health Centers in East Kazakhstan Region.
The monitoring group also included Zarina Kamasova, an external advisor to the Akim of East Kazakhstan Region on women and family affairs.
The Commission representatives visited Youth Health Centers “Vita”, “Ümit”, “My Family Clinic”, as well as the Consultative and Diagnostic Department of the Mother and Child Center. These institutions provide comprehensive medical, psychological, and social support to women of reproductive age, adolescents, and girls – from diagnostics to family planning counseling and psycho-emotional well-being.
In Ust-Kamenogorsk, a regional seminar titled “Joining Efforts to Safeguard the Reproductive Health of Adolescents and Youth” was held. The event was prompted by alarming statistics: East Kazakhstan Region has entered the “red zone” in terms of early pregnancies and abortions among minors. Since the beginning of 2025, the number of abortions among adolescents has risen by 11%.
In the first half of the year, the Consultative and Diagnostic Department of the Mother and Child Center received 4,953 patients and provided 8,321 medical services. The center employs specialized doctors including a pediatric gynecologist, gynecologist-endocrinologist, reproductive specialist, therapist, cardiologist, functional diagnostics physician, and geneticist. The facility is equipped with modern diagnostic equipment (SMAD, Holter, ECG, CTG), as well as ultrasound adapted specifically for adolescents.
Youth Health Centers in East Kazakhstan Region continue to strengthen their work with young people aged 10 to 29. Their core specialists — gynecologists, psychologists, general practitioners, lawyers, social workers, and nurses — provide services free of charge and on a confidential basis. Statistics show that most visitors are girls.
The work of these centers is based on the principles of the “4D”: voluntariness, accessibility, friendliness, and trust. During the Reproductive Health Week in May 2025, more than 1,700 people were reached through open days, lectures, trainings, and round tables. Active educational and volunteer work is also ongoing.
Particular attention is given to psychological support. Specialists help adolescents cope with anxiety, self-esteem issues, the consequences of early sexual relations, and unwanted pregnancies. Psychologists also teach refusal skills, the building of personal boundaries, and provide counseling to parents to reduce taboos and promote open dialogue within families.
Future plans include strengthening online presence, developing digital solutions (including the use of artificial intelligence), and expanding cooperation with educational institutions and NGOs to increase the effectiveness of prevention work among young people.
In addition, representatives of the National Commission visited the “Zhanuya” Family Support Center. During the meeting, the main areas of the center’s work, the challenges faced by families, and future support measures were discussed. According to the staff, more than 120 families in difficult life circumstances sought assistance in the first seven months of this year.
The most common problems include financial hardship (low or no income, unemployment, debt, inability to meet basic needs such as food), difficulties with official documentation (particularly in cases of disability and access to social benefits), and lack of housing.
Following the meeting, several proposals were put forward: establishing unified qualification requirements for all Family Support Center staff; revising the remuneration of psychologists, given their heavy workload and crucial role in supporting vulnerable groups; and developing a standardized monitoring and reporting system to evaluate service effectiveness.
Participants emphasized the importance of interagency cooperation and state support in addressing the socio-economic problems of families in difficult circumstances.
As part of the monitoring of reproductive health among youth and adolescents, members of the National Commission on Women’s Affairs and Family and Demographic Policy under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Gaukhar Nurakhmetova and Sunkar Khangeldina – conducted an inspection of Youth Health Centers in East Kazakhstan Region.
The monitoring group also included Zarina Kamasova, an external advisor to the Akim of East Kazakhstan Region on women and family affairs.
The Commission representatives visited Youth Health Centers “Vita”, “Ümit”, “My Family Clinic”, as well as the Consultative and Diagnostic Department of the Mother and Child Center. These institutions provide comprehensive medical, psychological, and social support to women of reproductive age, adolescents, and girls – from diagnostics to family planning counseling and psycho-emotional well-being.
In Ust-Kamenogorsk, a regional seminar titled “Joining Efforts to Safeguard the Reproductive Health of Adolescents and Youth” was held. The event was prompted by alarming statistics: East Kazakhstan Region has entered the “red zone” in terms of early pregnancies and abortions among minors. Since the beginning of 2025, the number of abortions among adolescents has risen by 11%.
In the first half of the year, the Consultative and Diagnostic Department of the Mother and Child Center received 4,953 patients and provided 8,321 medical services. The center employs specialized doctors including a pediatric gynecologist, gynecologist-endocrinologist, reproductive specialist, therapist, cardiologist, functional diagnostics physician, and geneticist. The facility is equipped with modern diagnostic equipment (SMAD, Holter, ECG, CTG), as well as ultrasound adapted specifically for adolescents.
Youth Health Centers in East Kazakhstan Region continue to strengthen their work with young people aged 10 to 29. Their core specialists — gynecologists, psychologists, general practitioners, lawyers, social workers, and nurses — provide services free of charge and on a confidential basis. Statistics show that most visitors are girls.
The work of these centers is based on the principles of the “4D”: voluntariness, accessibility, friendliness, and trust. During the Reproductive Health Week in May 2025, more than 1,700 people were reached through open days, lectures, trainings, and round tables. Active educational and volunteer work is also ongoing.
Particular attention is given to psychological support. Specialists help adolescents cope with anxiety, self-esteem issues, the consequences of early sexual relations, and unwanted pregnancies. Psychologists also teach refusal skills, the building of personal boundaries, and provide counseling to parents to reduce taboos and promote open dialogue within families.
Future plans include strengthening online presence, developing digital solutions (including the use of artificial intelligence), and expanding cooperation with educational institutions and NGOs to increase the effectiveness of prevention work among young people.
In addition, representatives of the National Commission visited the “Zhanuya” Family Support Center. During the meeting, the main areas of the center’s work, the challenges faced by families, and future support measures were discussed. According to the staff, more than 120 families in difficult life circumstances sought assistance in the first seven months of this year.
The most common problems include financial hardship (low or no income, unemployment, debt, inability to meet basic needs such as food), difficulties with official documentation (particularly in cases of disability and access to social benefits), and lack of housing.
Following the meeting, several proposals were put forward: establishing unified qualification requirements for all Family Support Center staff; revising the remuneration of psychologists, given their heavy workload and crucial role in supporting vulnerable groups; and developing a standardized monitoring and reporting system to evaluate service effectiveness.
Participants emphasized the importance of interagency cooperation and state support in addressing the socio-economic problems of families in difficult circumstances.