Kyrgyzstan, UNHCR discuss vaccination of refugees and stateless persons

Bishkek, Feb. 19, 2021. / Kabar /. First Deputy Minister of Health and Social Development of Kyrgyzstan Aliza Soltonbekova met with Regional Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for Central Asia Hans Friedrich Schodder. In the course of the meeting, Hans Friedrich Schodder expressed gratitude for the opportunity to meet and noted the Kyrgyz Republic at a sufficiently high level carries out measures to combat coronavirus and prevent its further spread in the country, the press service of the Kyrgyz Health Ministry reported on Friday. He noted UN Secretary-General António Guterres appealed to leaders of all countries to include refugees and stateless persons in their national vaccination programs. In this regard, UNHCR is ready to provide financial assistance to Kyrgyzstan through the conclusion of contracts with the Mandatory Health Insurance Fund (MHIF) of the republic. In turn, Aliza Soltonbekova said the Health Ministry is currently working on obtaining vaccines against coronavirus and co-production of Russian vaccine in Kyrgyzstan. "In Kyrgyzstan, citizens with kairylman status (ethnic Kyrgyz with foreign citizenship or no citizenship who have returned to the homeland voluntarily and received this status) are provided all public services, including health services, and the ministry is ready to work out an algorithm to include refugees and stateless persons in the Kyrgyz Republic in vaccination with the participation of the MHIF," Soltonbekova said. As a result of the meeting, the sides agreed on close cooperation between UNHCR and the Ministry of Health and Social Development.