The 18th International Congress of the Kazakhstan Association of Reproductive Medicine has opened in Almaty, bringing together more than 1,000 specialists from 25 countries. The forum marks 30 years since the birth of Kazakhstan’s first child conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF), on July 31, 1996.
In her message to participants, Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova said Kazakhstan focuses on reproductive health throughout a person’s life, from prevention and treatment to preparation for pregnancy and the development of maternal and child health services.
Over the past five years, maternal mortality has fallen fourfold and infant mortality by 30%, the minister said. Funding for IVF programs has increased sevenfold in line with an instruction from the Head of State.
