Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASTANA2122
2008-10-28 08:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Astana
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN ESTH UPDATE, SEPTEMBER 2008
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 002122
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, OES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON SENV SOCI KCRM KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN ESTH UPDATE, SEPTEMBER 2008
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 002122
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, OES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON SENV SOCI KCRM KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN ESTH UPDATE, SEPTEMBER 2008
1. The information for this cable on environment, science,
technology, and health issues in Kazakhstan is drawn solely from the
Kazakhstani press.
-- Unlicensed Pharmaceutical Production Facility
-- One in Three Pregnancies Ends in an Abortion
-- Mass Food Poisoning at a Karaganda High School
-- New Pet Ownership Regulations Raise Concerns
-- Criticism of East Kazakhstan Environmental Program
UNLICENSED PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTION FACILITY
2. The newspaper "Express-K" reported on September 25 that the
Almaty oblast office of the National Security Committee had
discovered an unlicensed facility manufacturing a wide range of
pharmaceuticals in the town of Akzhar. The pharmaceuticals were
being produced in unsanitary conditions and sold to government and
private medical establishments in the city of Almaty and in other
locales. The government is undertaking measures to ensure that
these counterfeit pharmaceuticals are withdrawn from sale,
"Express-K" explained.
ONE IN THREE PREGNANCIES ENDS IN ABORTION
3. The press reported on September 26 that every third pregnancy in
Kazakhstan is terminated through an induced abortion. There are
approximately 125,000 abortions in Kazakhstan annually. In the city
of Almaty, the abortion rate is particularly high: there are
20,000-25,000 abortions per year, compared to approximately 32,000
live births. Physicians are very concerned about high pregnancy and
abortion rates for teenagers.
MASS FOOD POISONING AT A KARAGANDA HIGH SCHOOL
4. The newspaper "Kazakhstan Today" reported on September 9 that
the Karaganda oblast prosecutor's office was investigating a case of
food poisoning that affected 65 students from a Karaganda high
school who became ill after they had lunch in the school's
cafeteria. Seven students were hospitalized. Two cafeteria
employees who were infected with dysentery bacillus appear to have
been the vectors for the outbreak. Local law enforcement
authorities opened a criminal case against the cafeteria's
management, and the chief sanitary inspector of Karaganda oblast
issued a decree requiring random inspections of all school
cafeterias.
NEW PET OWNERSHIP REGULATIONS RAISE CONCERN
5. New regulations on pet ownership were issued by Almaty city
authorities on August 30. Under the new rules, Almaty residents
will no longer be able to own more than two cats and two dogs per
household, and all cats and dogs will have to be registered with the
authorities. On September 29, the newspaper "Vremya" published
comments from animal rights NGOs, who maintained that these
regulations run contrary to Kazakhstan's constitution. The "Vremya"
article contended that the new regulations will lead to a
significant increase in the number of abandoned pets.
CRITICISM OF EAST KAZAKHSTAN ENVIROMENTAL PROGRAM
6. The newspaper "Megapolis" reported on September 30 that deputies
from the maslikhat (legislature) of East Kazakhstan oblast had
criticized the region's 2008-10 environmental protection program,
under which 2008 was declared to be the "Year of Environmental
Protection" in East Kazakhstan. Following these criticisms, East
Kazakhstan's governor convened a coordination council to discuss the
program's implementation. According to "Megapolis," some members of
the coordination council believe the program, which was based on
recommendations from the national-level Ministry of Environmental
Protection, does not meet the needs of the oblast and will not
improve the environmental situation there.
ASTANA 00002122 002 OF 002
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, OES
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON SENV SOCI KCRM KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN ESTH UPDATE, SEPTEMBER 2008
1. The information for this cable on environment, science,
technology, and health issues in Kazakhstan is drawn solely from the
Kazakhstani press.
-- Unlicensed Pharmaceutical Production Facility
-- One in Three Pregnancies Ends in an Abortion
-- Mass Food Poisoning at a Karaganda High School
-- New Pet Ownership Regulations Raise Concerns
-- Criticism of East Kazakhstan Environmental Program
UNLICENSED PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTION FACILITY
2. The newspaper "Express-K" reported on September 25 that the
Almaty oblast office of the National Security Committee had
discovered an unlicensed facility manufacturing a wide range of
pharmaceuticals in the town of Akzhar. The pharmaceuticals were
being produced in unsanitary conditions and sold to government and
private medical establishments in the city of Almaty and in other
locales. The government is undertaking measures to ensure that
these counterfeit pharmaceuticals are withdrawn from sale,
"Express-K" explained.
ONE IN THREE PREGNANCIES ENDS IN ABORTION
3. The press reported on September 26 that every third pregnancy in
Kazakhstan is terminated through an induced abortion. There are
approximately 125,000 abortions in Kazakhstan annually. In the city
of Almaty, the abortion rate is particularly high: there are
20,000-25,000 abortions per year, compared to approximately 32,000
live births. Physicians are very concerned about high pregnancy and
abortion rates for teenagers.
MASS FOOD POISONING AT A KARAGANDA HIGH SCHOOL
4. The newspaper "Kazakhstan Today" reported on September 9 that
the Karaganda oblast prosecutor's office was investigating a case of
food poisoning that affected 65 students from a Karaganda high
school who became ill after they had lunch in the school's
cafeteria. Seven students were hospitalized. Two cafeteria
employees who were infected with dysentery bacillus appear to have
been the vectors for the outbreak. Local law enforcement
authorities opened a criminal case against the cafeteria's
management, and the chief sanitary inspector of Karaganda oblast
issued a decree requiring random inspections of all school
cafeterias.
NEW PET OWNERSHIP REGULATIONS RAISE CONCERN
5. New regulations on pet ownership were issued by Almaty city
authorities on August 30. Under the new rules, Almaty residents
will no longer be able to own more than two cats and two dogs per
household, and all cats and dogs will have to be registered with the
authorities. On September 29, the newspaper "Vremya" published
comments from animal rights NGOs, who maintained that these
regulations run contrary to Kazakhstan's constitution. The "Vremya"
article contended that the new regulations will lead to a
significant increase in the number of abandoned pets.
CRITICISM OF EAST KAZAKHSTAN ENVIROMENTAL PROGRAM
6. The newspaper "Megapolis" reported on September 30 that deputies
from the maslikhat (legislature) of East Kazakhstan oblast had
criticized the region's 2008-10 environmental protection program,
under which 2008 was declared to be the "Year of Environmental
Protection" in East Kazakhstan. Following these criticisms, East
Kazakhstan's governor convened a coordination council to discuss the
program's implementation. According to "Megapolis," some members of
the coordination council believe the program, which was based on
recommendations from the national-level Ministry of Environmental
Protection, does not meet the needs of the oblast and will not
improve the environmental situation there.
ASTANA 00002122 002 OF 002
HOAGLAND