Astana, July 12 –Kicking off celebration of World Population Day in Almaty, Mr. Werner Haug is in Astana for introductory meetings with Minister of Health, Minister of Labour and Social Protection, as well as the officials from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Trade and Economic Development.

During his meeting with Hon. Salidat Kairbekova, the Minister of Health acknowledged UNFPA work by attributing success, Kazakhstan has achieved in reduction of maternal mortality with UNFPA efforts, assisting Kazakhstan to implement effective perinatal technologies. In his turn Mr. Werner Haug accompanied by Director of Central Asia Sub-Regional Office, Mr. Nikolai Botev and Assistant Representative, Mr. Kossukhin Alexander accentuated the importance of family planning for Kazakhstan and universal access of adolescents to sexual and reproductive health.

Meeting with Minister of Labour and Social Protection who also chairs National Commission for National Commission for Women Affairs and Family-Demographical Policy under President of Kazakhstan highlighted such issues as early marriage in the southern part of Kazakhstan, reproductive health and needs of family planning for Oralmans (ethnic Kazakhs, who repatriated to their native land during recent years), as well as the need for enhancing capacities of specialists in demography.

During the meeting with representatives of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Trade and Economic Development, Kazakhstan side expressed its commitments in continuing the practice of co-financing for the implementation of UNFPA Country Programme.

After intensive meeting schedule in Astana, Mr. Werner Haug heads up back to Almaty for more meetings with implementing partners on the ground.