Astanа hosted the international conference “Best Start for Every Child in Kazakhstan,” where the heads of the Ministries of Health, Education, Labor and Social Protection signed the “Satti Bastau” Comprehensive Plan for Early Childhood Development and Early Intervention for 2025–2027. The initiative aims to build an integrated system of support for children from the earliest stages of life.
The event brought together UNICEF Representative in Kazakhstan Dr. Rashed Mustafa Sarwar, delegates from eight countries, international organizations, and experts — more than 200 participants in total.
The “Satti Bastau” plan outlines six priority areas: improving legislation, strengthening inter-agency cooperation, enhancing professional competencies, expanding access to preschool education, ensuring sustainable funding, and supporting parenting skills, including for families with children who have special educational needs. The document also includes measures to develop a unified digital platform for interdepartmental interaction and introduce service continuity standards and programs to support parents’ mental and social well-being.
Minister of Health Akmaral Alnazarova noted that, following the President’s instructions, systemic measures are being implemented to strengthen maternal and child healthcare, expand prevention and early diagnostics, provide specialized care, and modernize pediatric healthcare infrastructure.
“Today, about 7 million children live in Kazakhstan, and every third citizen of the country is a child. Since 2020, funding for medical care for children in Kazakhstan has increased more than twofold — from 264 to 670 billion tenge, which now accounts for almost a quarter of the healthcare budget. These investments are already yielding results: child mortality rates have reached a historic low — neonatal 3.37, infant 6.80, and under-five 9.30 per 1,000 live births. But for us it is important not only to reduce adverse outcomes, but above all to improve the quality of life for children by creating conditions in which every child can grow up, receive education, and build a profession,” she emphasized.
The minister emphasized the development of early support services for children with developmental disorders, including autism. There are currently 240 Early Childhood Development and Early Intervention Centers across the country providing assistance from speech therapists, psychologists, and rehabilitation specialists. Since 2025, Kazakhstan has also implemented an early childhood development monitoring system supported by UNICEF.
According to Alnazarova, the program aims to provide universal patronage to all pregnant women and children, as well as enhanced support for 30% of families and specialized developmental monitoring for 15% of children with developmental delays.
She expressed confidence that the signing of “Satti Bastau” marks a new stage in protecting children's rights, strengthening cross-sector collaboration, and expanding access to comprehensive services for families from the very beginning of a child's life.
Source: Ministry of Healthcare