Ulmeken Zhollybekova and Albina Elemisova are the backbone of the ‘UMIT-MEDIKA’ PE rural dentist clinic in Karakalpakstan’s Takhtakupir district, with Ulmeken treating patients and Albina assisting through the use of modern dental devices and equipment. Until now their budget has not matched their ambitions, being insufficient for purchasing expensive diagnostic equipment, and because of this they have had to send patients requiring more attention to a clinic in their nearest city.

Today, through our support, Ulmeken and Albina are able to independently provide a full range of dentistry services to their community.

In 2019 UNDP began collaborating with UNESCO to strengthen human security in the Aral Sea region, through a Joint Programme intended to promote the sustainable rural development of local communities in Karakalpakstan. One of this programme’s first initiatives was to call for proposals for innovative business projects, particularly those led by women entrepreneurs who are passionate about improving the lives of people around them.

Through reviewing the ‘UMIT-MEDIKA’ clinic’s business plan, the selection committee discovered it was the only institution of its type in a district of almost 40,000 people. The clinic’s proposal detailed challenges faced in providing a full range of in-house treatments to its clientele, due to a lack of X-ray equipment meeting modern diagnostic requirements.

Last year the Joint Programme was approved to co-finance the required equipment, and in December 2020 a portable X-ray machine and laptop for working with the resulting images were delivered to the clinic. While Ulmeken and Albina’s services are currently in even greater demand, with the new equipment they’ve received they are now able to provide the same level of care as urban medical institutions. They have also established a dedicated telegram group used by 480 regular customers, further enhancing the accessibility of their clinic’s services.

“We try to work on ourselves all the time, to study new trends in dentistry and in diagnostics. Now we have also introduced an online appointment service,” Ulmeken said. “The use of digital technologies in our office’s activities has allowed us to improve the quality of services we provide to our patients.”

Ulmeken and Albina have made a significant contribution to the health security of their district. In turn we have created favourable conditions which allow them to provide the best possible dental care, while also improving their economic security.

The UNDP-UNESCO Joint Programme ‘Addressing the urgent human insecurities in the Aral Sea region through promoting sustainable rural development’ is implemented mainly through the financial assistance of the UN Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea Region in Uzbekistan. Additional funding contributions have been provided by the governments of Finland, the European Union, Norway, South Korea and Uzbekistan.

Our programme works to eliminate environmental, social and economic instability in the most vulnerable communities of the Aral Sea region, by providing comprehensive solutions to address environmental concerns, expand access to basic services, and improve the well-being of the local population.