Early years
Health and nutrition are the major challenges for children under eight years old. Of the approximately 307 children born in Kyrgyzstan each day:
… Half are at risk of disrupted brain development because of iron deficiency. ... More than 100 will have poor immunity as a result of vitamin deficiency, leading to frequent ill health, poor growth and even death. … Around 55 will suffer from intellectual impairment caused by iodine deficiency. … Around 18 will not live to see their first birthday. Three more will die before they are five years old. … Some families are too poor to pay for birth registration – their children do not even appear in national statistics.. Most childhood illnesses and deaths could be averted if children had easy access to medical services and their parents had the right information and skills to care for their children. But in Kyrgyzstan, two-thirds of the population lives in remote mountainous areas with a degraded health infrastructure. On the positive side, most of children are born in health instituions and receive the required ‘package’ of immunisation against lethal diseases free of charge. The lack of early screening and diagnosis means that temporary and treatable health problems can turn into life-long disabilities. Children with disabilities are either isolated at home with little support from the state or, very often, institutionalised. Mother-to-child transmission of HIV is on the rise, while HIV counseling and testing services are still underdeveloped. The lack of pre-schooling is another concern. Of the 307 children born each day, only about 60 children mainly from urban areas will receive pre-school education. While there are a growing number of private kindergartens in the cities, rural areas remain poorly served and rural children miss out. Many parents are unaware of the importance of loving interaction with young children in giving them the foundation for emotional security, social skills and the desire to learn.
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