Life & Culture - The Times Of Central Asia

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Healthcare

Tajikistan’s Health Ministry Seeks Alternative to USAID Assistance in Combating Deadly Diseases

Tajikistan’s Ministry of Health is exploring alternative funding sources following the suspension of USAID programs. The recent freeze on U.S. foreign aid has affected several health initiatives in Tajikistan, particularly those focused on combating HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. At a press conference, Health Minister Jamoliddin Abdullozoda stated that authorities are seeking new mechanisms to sustain these programs. “USAID has played a key role in the fight against HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, as well as in maternal and child health. Until the agency’s future involvement is clarified, we intend to mobilize other resources,” Abdullozoda said. One of Tajikistan’s main partners remains the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, which continues to finance drug supplies and testing. The Health Ministry confirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with the Fund and engaging additional international organizations. Tajikistan's Republican Center for AIDS Prevention and Control clarified that USAID did not provide antiretroviral therapy (ARV) drugs or testing kits. Instead, the agency’s primary role was offering psychological and social support to HIV patients, mainly through nongovernmental organizations. According to official data, 12,480 people living with HIV are currently registered in Tajikistan’s healthcare system, including 1,022 children. In 2023, 293 new cases were detected among labor migrants. However, the overall number of registered HIV cases declined by 98 compared to previous years. Regarding tuberculosis, Tajikistan recorded 4,545 new cases in 2023 and 4,537 in 2024. The health minister attributed the slight increase to improved diagnostic capabilities. The country now has 77 tuberculosis diagnostic machines, 84 BAG laboratories, and 40 specialized devices for detecting infections.

Air Pollution

Kyrgyz Engineer Develops Unique Air Purification Filter

Amid rising air pollution in Kyrgyzstan, hydraulic engineer Amantur Salymbayev has developed an innovative smoke filter that operates without electricity or water, relying solely on aerodynamic principles. The device is currently undergoing patent registration with Kyrgyzpatent. According to the Department of Environmental Monitoring, research has confirmed that the filter captures 98% of harmful pollutants, including soot and carbon dioxide (CO₂). A key feature of the Salymbayev filter is its complete autonomy - it requires no connection to power or water supplies. This makes it particularly effective in reducing harmful emissions and improving air quality in highly polluted areas. So far, six filters have been installed in various locations, including Bishkek and Naryn, as part of a pilot project. The installations were carried out free of charge to demonstrate the filter’s effectiveness and affordability to the public. With a lifespan of five to six years and no maintenance requirements, the filter offers a cost-effective and durable solution. Each unit is priced at 25,000 soms (approximately $285), but as Salymbayev emphasizes, his primary motivation is environmental improvement rather than financial gain. “Earnings are not my priority. I want my grandchildren to breathe clean air. I am a patriot of my country,” Salymbayev said. If widely adopted, the technology could significantly reduce harmful emissions in Kyrgyzstan and serve as a model for eco-friendly innovation.

Tourism

Visits of Chinese Tourists to Kazakhstan Surged in 2024

In 2024, 655,000 Chinese tourists visited Kazakhstan, representing a 78% increase compared to the previous year, Nurtas Karipbayev, chairman of the Tourism Industry Committee at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan, announced at a press conference on February 6. The surge in visitors comes as Kazakhstan declared 2024 the "Year of Kazakhstan Tourism in China", an initiative aimed at strengthening cultural and economic ties between the two countries. The program promoted Kazakhstan as a travel destination and facilitated collaborations between tourism industry stakeholders from both nations. As part of the initiative, leading Chinese media and social networks - with a combined audience exceeding 1.3 billion people - broadcast and published content about Kazakhstan, significantly boosting its appeal among Chinese travelers, Karipbayev stated. He noted that Almaty was the most popular destination for Chinese tourists in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan also participated in four major tourism exhibitions in China: ITB China, ITE Hong Kong, COTTM, and the China International Medical Tourism Fair. These events helped establish new partnerships with leading Chinese tour operators. "Throughout the year, various Kazakh cities and regions hosted 10 major presentation tours. These events further heightened interest in Kazakhstan. Participation in tourism exhibitions and the organization of informational tours remain key priorities in our collaboration," Karipbayev said. The increase in tourist flow was further supported by the mutual visa-free travel regime, which took effect in November 2023. Under this arrangement, Kazakh and Chinese citizens can travel visa-free for up to 30 days per visit, with a maximum stay of 90 calendar days within a 180-day period. The agreement covers tourism, medical treatment, business trips, and transit travel. Following the success of 2024, the governments of Kazakhstan and China have designated 2025 as the "Year of China Tourism in Kazakhstan", aiming to further expand travel and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Photography

Grounding the Stars: Andrew McConnell’s Lens on Space and the Steppe

Award-winning photographer and filmmaker Andrew McConnell has dedicated his career to illuminating the world’s overlooked regions and underreported stories. He has a distinctive ability to examine major global issues and events from fresh, often unexpected perspectives. Ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances are the focus of McConnell’s lens. From conflict zones in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the hidden lives of the Sahrawi people in Western Sahara, his work frequently highlights human endurance in challenging environments. His new book, Some Worlds Have Two Suns, takes a different direction. It explores the vast, remote Kazakh Steppe, where the sparse local population coexists with the high-tech world of space travel. The project began in 2014 after he filmed his documentary Gaza. While decompressing at home in Ireland, he watched a BBC documentary about a Soyuz spacecraft landing in the Kazakh Steppe. The stark contrast between destruction and human achievement struck him. “I turned to my parents and said, ‘I’m gonna go and see that.’” That moment sparked an eight-year journey documenting the Russian ground crews recovering astronauts and the communities living beneath these celestial homecomings. TCA: You visited the Kazakh Steppe multiple times to document the Soyuz landings. How many trips did you make and what were the challenges of reaching such a remote location? Andrew: I probably made a dozen. I would join the ground crew in Karaganda, which is not far from Astana, and from there they head out to the Steppe, and depending on whether it's winter or summer they have different vehicles for either one. In summer, the Steppe is fine to drive on, so they have four by fours and we head out and set up camp the day before the Soyuz arrives. They know the exact time the Soyuz will land, right down to the second, and it always goes to the same location, which is a group of tombs. You can see those in the book, the two horsemen beside these tombs. These are old nomadic burial tombs, maybe 300 years old, so that, initially, was very interesting to me… you know, what are these? The Steppe is this unending boundless void of nothingness, just flat grassland. At first, as a photographer, it was quite underwhelming because visually, how do you make that interesting? But here were these tombs in the middle of nowhere and it was instantly fascinating. That was always the base camp. I don’t know if that’s where Rocosmos aimed Soyuz, but that’s where it came into the atmosphere every time I saw it. It would enter the atmosphere above these tombs. The parachute deploys and then it depends on the wind because they can drift for 20 kilometers. A couple of times it was a windless day, and the Soyuz dropped within sight of these tombs. I had a fantasy that it would drop in the middle of it. [caption id="attachment_28250" align="aligncenter" width="2000"] Nomadic burial tombs, Soyuz landing zone, Kazakhstan, 2018; image: Andrew McConnell[/caption] TCA: What shifted your focus from the...

Art and Culture

Kazakh Singer Dimash Kudaibergen Climbs U.S. Charts with “Smoke”

Kazakhstani singer Dimash Kudaibergen has achieved significant success on the U.S. charts with his song Smoke, ranking highly on both Amazon and iTunes. Throughout January 2025, international media outlets, including publications in Argentina, the United Kingdom, and the United States, featured stories on the singer. Reports highlighted his exceptional vocal range, creative independence, and dedication to Kazakh national culture - qualities that have earned him a global fan base. “Dimash Kudaibergen is rapidly becoming one of Asia's best-known artists, captivating audiences worldwide with his unique fusion of neo-classical, pop, Kazakh folk, and contemporary trends. His independence allows him to experiment freely, combining traditional Kazakh motifs with global musical influences. For him, music is not just entertainment but an opportunity to present Kazakhstan's rich culture on the world stage,” Haute Living wrote. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zKBUihALTH0[/embed] Released on April 26, 2024, Smoke is one of Dimash’s latest tracks. The music of the composition was written by the singer, with lyrics by Candice Kelly and Dimash Gordon. The song quickly gained traction, and by January 30, 2025, it had risen in the U.S. charts. It reached No. 32 on the iTunes Top 100, entered the Top 10 of Amazon’s Best Sellers in Songs, and claimed No. 1 in Amazon’s Best Sellers in Pop. This success underscores Dimash Kudaibergen’s growing influence beyond Kazakhstan and rising prominence in the international music industry. Dimash Kudaibergen is a Kazakh singer renowned for his extraordinary six-octave vocal range. He first gained international recognition after winning Slavic Bazaar (2015) and later became a finalist on the Chinese talent show Singer (2017). His musical style blends elements of neoclassical, pop, and traditional Kazakh folk. He has performed on prestigious stages worldwide, including the Kremlin Palace, Barclays Center, and Meridian Hall in Toronto. In 2019, he won the MTV Global Chinese Music Awards, and in 2021, he was named Asian Musician of the Year by the Top Chinese Music Awards. Kudaibergen also took part in the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics.

Migration

Russia May Impose Stricter Rules on Central Asian Migrants

New immigration regulations in Russia could affect millions of Central Asian migrants. A proposed bill from the Russian Ministry of Education would require migrant children to pass a Russian language test. Those who fail would be required to enroll in a three-month language program, funded by their parents. If a child does not attend the required language classes, regional authorities will investigate the family’s living conditions and report the case to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Parents who fail to ensure their child meets the language requirements could face administrative penalties. As of September 1, 2024, nearly four million Central Asian migrants were officially living in Russia. With tightening immigration policies in Russia, the challenges facing Central Asian migrant workers continue to grow. According to a recent survey by the FOCUS Alliance of Euro-Asian Sociologists, most Kyrgyz citizens believe that working conditions for migrants in Russia will worsen significantly in the near future.