Embassy of the United States

On March 2, a new phase of a program on safe motherhood was launched in Astana, including the official opening of three birth preparedness schools.  The ZdravPlus II program of the U.S. Agency for International Development implements the program, in cooperation the Kazakhstani Ministry of Health and with additional funding support from ExxonMobil. Kazakhstani reporters intently covered the remarks of Minister of Heath Anatoliy Dernavoi, U.S. Ambassador John Ordway, and ExxonMobil representative Patricia Graham.
During the ceremony, Minister Dernavoi said that protecting the health of mothers and children is one of the priorities of the Government of Kazakhstan. Ambassador Ordwa

y emphasized U.S.-Kazakhstani cooperative efforts in meeting challenges in the areas of infection control and evidence-based practices during pregnancy and delivery.
Since March 2006, the education component of the program has worked with over 2000 expectant mothers at two sites to better prepare them and their partners for delivery, while 134 health care providers have been trained about the clinical aspects of the Safe Motherhood Strategy of the World Health Organization. The program seeks to raise the Kazakhstani standard of living by advising expectant mothers on best practices for ensuring the health of these future citizens. View photogallery