Rospotrebnadzor: Construction Begins on Russian Kyrgyz Research Center for Infectious Diseases in Bishkek
On August 31, a cornerstone-laying ceremony marking the start of construction of the joint Russian-Kyrgyz Research Center for Infectious Diseases was held in Bishkek. Anna Popova, Head of Rospotrebnadzor, took part in the ceremony via videoconference. Speaking at the future construction site in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic Minister of Health Damirbek Osmonov and Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Kyrgyz Republic Sergey Vakunov delivered welcoming remarks.
“Rospotrebnadzor and the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic have a long history of joint efforts to strengthen biological safety. Together, we implemented a pilot program to vaccinate Kyrgyzstan’s adult population against hepatitis B. Since 2022, more than 700,000 people have been vaccinated against the disease with a Russian-made vaccine under this program. As a result, hepatitis B incidence in Kyrgyzstan has decreased threefold in recent years. Our flagship project in strengthening epidemic preparedness is the establishment of a joint research center for infectious diseases,” Anna Popova said in her opening remarks at the ceremony.
Designed in accordance with Russian biosafety requirements and constructed in line with national standards for the design, construction and operation of such facilities, the Russian-Kyrgyz Research Center will provide a foundation for long-term cooperation between the two countries in addressing infectious disease threats.
“The new state-of-the-art research center is designed to significantly strengthen our country’s capacity in the prevention, early detection, laboratory diagnosis and study of infectious diseases,” said Damirbek Osmonov, Minister of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The Center’s key functions will include the rapid identification of pathogens causing particularly dangerous infectious diseases, laboratory diagnostics, and the training of specialists in biosafety, microbiology and epidemiology.
“The research center for infectious diseases being established with Russian support is a clear example of practical cooperation between Russia and Kyrgyzstan,” said Sergey Vakunov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Kyrgyz Republic.
The involvement of local specialists trained in Russia will ensure the effective operation of the Center and contribute to the integration of Russian approaches to maintaining sanitary and epidemiological well-being in Kyrgyzstan. This, in turn, will strengthen the resilience of countries across the Eurasian region to the challenges posed by infectious diseases.