Bishkek, Nov. 12, 2025 /Kabar/. Aliyna Altymysheva, National Officer at the World Health Organization, noted that the World Diabetes Foundation project implemented in Kyrgyzstan was successful and recognized as one of the best among 53 European countries. The project's results were presented at the Tallinn Conference in 2023.
"The project was presented by a large team of Kyrgyz healthcare professionals. It demonstrated the important role of health promotion offices, which operate at an intersectoral level," Altymysheva said.
The project included numerous events, and it became clear that diabetes prevention requires the participation of the entire community. The project placed special emphasis on training nurses. "We trained many nurses, and this is important because they are younger, know how to use gadgets, and can quickly convey information to patients. We have fewer doctors; many are of retirement age, and they have a heavier workload. In this regard, it's easier for a nurse to explain to a patient how to properly care for their feet, not to cut their own nails, and to walk barefoot, as decreased sensitivity can lead to serious complications," the WHO representative emphasized.
The project also aimed to detect early eye damage in diabetes. A fundus camera was used for this purpose.
"The nurse takes a photograph of the eye, and the image is sent to an ophthalmologist. If necessary, the patient is advised to consult a doctor. This is important because one in three people with diabetes worldwide has eye damage," Altymysheva added.