a documentary photo story about the life and work of a feldsher in the most mountainous region of Kyrgyzstan
By WHO Country Office in the Kyrgyz Republic
Photos: WHO / Danil Usmanov
May 16, 2024
Naryn region, Kyrgyzstan
In the remote, rugged landscapes of Naryn, Kyrgyzstan, where access to healthcare is often a journey unto itself, a dedicated figure stands tall amidst the challenges. Meet Jiydekul Yrysbayeva, a beacon of hope and resilience in a region where medical services are sparse and distances vast.
In this documentary photo story, we delve into the life and work of Jiydekul Yrysbayeva, a feldsher who lives in Karatal Japyryk area of Naryn, the most mountainous region of Kyrgyzstan, 2500 meters above sea level, and embodies the spirit of service and compassion. Despite the logistical hurdles of reaching this inaccessible part of Kyrgyzstan, Jiydekul Yrysbayeva tirelessly dedicates herself to the well-being of her community.
Part-time medical worker, part-time livestock farmer and full-time advocate for health, Jiydekul Yrysbayeva's mission extends beyond the confines of her medical station. With a particular focus on vaccination, she plays a crucial role in safeguarding the lives of her fellow Kyrgyzstanis. Through her efforts, she not only administers vaccines but also educates community about the importance of immunization.
This documentary photo series sheds light on Kyrgyzstan's relentless efforts in the realm of vaccination and immunization with WHO's and other allies' support. Over 50 years, the Expanded Immunization Program has been a cornerstone of health protection in the WHO European Region, of which Kyrgyzstan is a part. 2024 also marks 30 years for Kyrgyzstan's National Immunization Program, being a massive part of public health initiatives, saving countless lives and fortifying generations against preventable diseases.
As we commemorate European Immunization Week, join us in celebrating the unwavering commitment of Jiydekul Yrysbayeva and her peers. Through their dedication and the power of vaccines, they not only save lives but also lay the foundation for a healthier, resilient future for Kyrgyzstan and beyond.
Jiydekul Yrysbayeva (54) rides a horse to reach her neighbours with vaccination and other health services in an inaccessible mountainous region in the Karatal Japyryk area, 4000 meters above sea level, Naryn region, Kyrgyzstan.Jiydekul Yrysbayeva's farm in the Karatal Japyryk area, Naryn region, Kyrgyzstan
Jiydekul Yrysbayeva prays in her home in the Karatal Japyryk area, Naryn region, Kyrgyzstan.Jiydekul Yrysbayeva shears lambs at her farm in the Karatal Japyryk area.
Jiydekul Yrysbayeva washes the dishes in her home in the Karatal Japyryk area.Jiydekul Yrysbayeva fills the patient database on the online platform while her husband Subanbek Tentiyev (59) takes a rest in their home in Naryn city, Kyrgyzstan.
Jiydekul Yrysbayeva packs all vaccines into a thermobox at the immunization center in Naryn city, Kyrgyzstan. She wraps every vaccine for a safe delivery to the mountains.Jiydekul Yrysbayeva leaves after vaccinating residents in the Karatal Japyryk area.Jiydekul Yrysbayeva and Subanbek Tentiyev drive to Naryn to sell sheep, buy groceries at the bazaar and pick up vaccines in the city.Jiydekul Yrysbayeva's husband Subanbek Tentiyev moves a stone from the mountain road so that they can drive to houses to perform vaccination in the Karatal Japyryk area.Jiydekul Yrysbayeva takes a rest leaning on the thermobox in their car in Naryn city, Kyrgyzstan.Jiydekul Yrysbayeva explains the expected vaccine reactions to a patient in the Karatal Japyryk area.Jazgul Jumalyk dresses her son Ali Marsbekov (2) for Jiydekul Yrysbayeva to vaccinate him at their home in the Karatal Japyryk area, Naryn region, Kyrgyzstan.Jiydekul Yrysbayeva releases air from a syringe to vaccinate a patient in the Karatal Japyryk area.Jazgul Jumalyk holds her son Ali while Jiydekul Yrysbayeva vaccinates him at their home.Ali Marsbekov sleeps in a beshik, a traditional Kyrgyz child bassinet, when Jiydekul arrives at their home in the Karatal Japyryk area. Thanks to her dedication, Ali can now get vaccinated and be safe from diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus.Jiydekul Yrysbayeva and her husband Subanbek Tentiyev ride horses so that she can perform vaccinations of her neighbors in an inaccessible mountainous region in the Karatal Japyryk area. People have seen wolves in this area, so it's dangerous to travel alone.Jiydekul Yrysbayeva releases air from a syringe for performing vaccinations of patients in their house in the Karatal Japyryk area, Naryn region, Kyrgyzstan.Jiydekul Yrysbayeva is going to give vaccines to her neighbors in Karatal Japyryk area.Jiydekul Yrysbayeva measures a patient's blood pressure during patronage of neigbours in the Karatal Japyryk area, Naryn region, Kyrgyzstan.Jiydekul Yrysbayeva and her husband Subanbek Tentiyev arrive at the farthest farm to perform vaccinations of their neighbors in an inaccessible mountainous region in the Karatal Japyryk area. People have seen wolves in this area, so it's dangerous to travel alone.Guests read medical booklets that the feldsher shared with them during Orozo Ait outside one of the neighbors' house in the Karatal Japyryk area, Naryn region, Kyrgyzstan.Jiydekul Yrysbayeva vaccinates a patient in the Karatal Japyryk area, Naryn region, Kyrgyzstan.Jiydekul Yrysbayeva takes a rest after a long horse ride to the farthest farm before she will start to do vaccination of her neighbors in an inaccessible mountainous region in the Karatal Japyryk area.The fence at Jiydekul Yrysbayeva's farm under a night skyJiydekul Yrysbayeva prays with her husband and neighbors before breakfast the next morning after vaccinating patients at the farthest farm in an inaccessible mountainous region of the Karatal Japyryk area. They spent the night at the farm because it was dangerous to travel back in the dark.Jiydekul Yrysbayeva and her husband Subanbek Tentiyev near the farms in the Karatal Japyryk areaJiydekul Yrysbayeva climbed a mountain to get a signal on her phone because the internet coverage is not available everywhere in the Karatal Japyryk area.
Partnering with the European Union
A project co-funded by the European Union is currently being implemented in Kyrgyzstan and 4 other Central Asian republics – Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan. The project involves supporting the ministries of health with immunization and supply chain logistics, risk communication and community engagement, and the capacity-building of health-care professionals, paving the way to achieve the goals and targets of the European Immunization Agenda 2030.
