ASTANA – Kazakh Secretary of State Gulshara Abdykalykova visited South Kazakhstan Feb. 20, where she opened a new hospital, visited several cultural and educational sites and met with representatives of ethnic and cultural associations and the women’s community, reported the Akorda presidential residence press service.
“I wish the personnel of the new hospital good luck in treating children,” said Abdykalykova, as she participated in opening a multi-field children’s hospital designed for 270 beds in Shymkent. The new building is four times larger than the old one and equipped with up-to-date medical facilities. The hospital was built under the 100 schools, 100 hospitals state programme and is prepared to treat 10,000 children per year, according to Otyrar.kz, a local media outlet.
“The new hospital is distinguished by the location of a surgical block, which is separate. The hospital also has a traumatology centre for emergency care and a small operating room,” said, Gaukhar Ukbayeva, the hospital’s head doctor, according to Otyrar.kz.
Abdykalykova also met with representatives of the region’s ethnic and cultural associations at the Centre of Customs, Traditions and Rituals. The centre is unique in the state, as 20 ethnic and cultural associations operate within it and more than 100 ethnic groups live in the region. The secretary of state emphasised the high social-political value of “Year of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan,” noting the nation’s task is to reach every village and every man and woman to show the country’s unity to the world, according to Otyrar.kz.
During her visit to Culinary College No. 6, Abdykalykova was presented with the details of the dual education system, which has been implemented at the college. Under the system, 96 percent of the graduates of the college achieved employment in 2014, an increase of 2.2 per cent from 2012. According to zakon.kz, 136 contracts with regional companies were executed under the dual education system.
“This means that the college graduates are in demand,” said Abdykalykova, according to zakon.kz.
One of the culinary college’s employees also noted that “the [college’s] three-floor educational building with gymnasium designed for 900 students, was built at the expense of the regional budget. Formerly, we taught only cooks, candy makers and bakers, but now we teach waiters, barmen and salesmen.” The college also plans to begin offering hotel management classes in 2015-2016 to train administrators, assistants, maids, porters and receptionists.
Abdykalykova also visited the regional Russian Drama Theatre and the rebuilt School No. 1, which is named after Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.
The secretary of state concluded her visit by meeting with representatives of the region’s women’s community to discuss development of demographic policies and women’s activities in the implementation of the Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy and the new Nurly Zhol economic policy. Abdykalykova also charged the heads of regional state bodies to complete specific tasks.
