While still quite small, IME has been very active.  Topics for past projects have included (location, in the city of Shymkent, except where specified):

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2022-2025:

     Opening AHA, ECSI and NAEMT training sites in Kazakhstan 

     Medical Genetics seminars

     Physical therapy "Increasing occupation for children with motor development delay"

     ISU in Nursing

     BLS and PHTLS for policemen, rescuers and firemen 

  

2019-2021:

     Nursing: BLS, ICU management
     Pediatrics 
     Clinical psychology

     Oncology
     Reconstructive facial surgery
     Clinical genetics: Genetic-metabolic disorder, Neurogenetics 
     Social work in healthcare

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2018:

     Nursing: Patient management in chronic heart failure

     Advanced medical genetics for physicians 

     Diagnostic and treatment of chronic viral hepatitis B and C (locations: Kyzylorda, Shymkent)

     Occupational therapy for cerebral palsy children

   

2017:

     Basics and advanced medical genetics (location: Astana)

     Nursing: Newborn care after discharge from the hospital 

     Nursing: Patient assessment 

     Mental health. Autism (location: Atyrau)

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2016:     

     Social worker training for orphans 

     Nursing training in post-discharge neonatal care                        

     Pediatric facial surgery instruction & observations

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2015:     

     Pediatric jaundice training 

     Movement disorders in children  (locations: Shymkent & Taraz)   

     Post stroke physical rehabilitation     

     Basics of family/child social work (locations: Shymkent & Taraz)     

     Basics of social work in gerontology     Basics of social work for the disabled

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2014:      

     Pediatric jaundice training   

     Practical pediatrics     

     Train the Trainer: Critical Thinking in Nursing (location: city of Almaty)

     

     

     

     

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                                                                               PLANNED PROJECTS:
 

   As soon as funds are raised we are also ready to send a team of volunteer American Medical Geneticists to provide basic Medical Genetics training to health care providers working in many disciplines such as Pediatrics, Neonatology, Obstetrics, Neurology, and Oncology.  The plan is to train a critical mass of medical providers so that genetic conditions are recognized and referred to Medial Genetics specialists.  The Basic Genetics course will be offered in multiple cities at different times of the year.  Subsequent related projects will teach how to establish Medial Geneticist and Genetic Counselor Training Programs so that Medical Genetics becomes a sustainable part of the Kazakh health care system.  
 

   Another identified high priority is Kazakhstan's well-described high burden of tuberculosis, including forms of the disease resistant to standard treatments (MDR-TB). This particular deadly problem affects the poorest and most marginalized people first, including children.   As with any highly communicable disease, aggressive treatment can prevent spread within the region of the outbreak as well as spreading throughout other parts of the world.  
 

   While IME operates mainly through volunteer efforts, we still have expenses related to air travel, accommodations, food, facility rental, advertisement, materials translation and some minimal staff salaries.  Given the recent declines in oil revenues, the Kazakh government's limited reimbursements of IME activities have dwindled to an inadequate level.  The medical personnel taking IME Continuing Medical Education courses cannot afford to cover the training themselves since presently the average salary of a Kazakh physician is approximately $50 per week. 

   

   IME staff and other volunteers are passionate about helping people and helping the health system in this large Central Asian country become more self-sufficient through medical education and hands-on training.