Life in the Regions: Grandmothers Forgot a Newborn on the Street, While the Elderly Waited Days for a Doctor: A Nurse from Kemina on the Hardships of the 90s

Юлия Воробьева Exclusive
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Nurse Nurzhamal Mamytkazieva, who has dedicated nearly 40 years of her life to medicine, shared her memories of the beginning of her career at the rural health post (FAP) in the village of Beishike, located in the Kemin district of the Chui region. Recalling her first days, Nurzhamal mentioned that for an entire year she had to walk long distances daily between villages.
She noted that her route passed through mountains and past cemeteries, which added difficulties to her work. Nurzhamal was born on September 22, 1967, in the village of Kyzart, located in the Jumgal district of the Naryn region. After graduating from high school in 1986, she continued her education at a medical college in Frunze, which she completed in 1984.

During her studies, Nurzhamal met her future husband at the cinema. After finishing her education, they got married, and Nurzhamal moved to Beishike. As a daughter-in-law, she began her career in the neighboring village of Boroldoy, where she worked for four years. The period when she first started her work was particularly challenging: the collapse of the Soviet Union led to the cessation of machinery operations and transportation issues. Every day, Nurzhamal walked the distance between Beishike and Boroldoy, which was a real test.

In March 1993, she was transferred to the FAP in the village of Beishike, where she still works today. Nurzhamal shared that her job is full of interesting and challenging moments, and despite being retired, she continues to work due to a lack of young specialists. Over the years, she has earned numerous awards and the trust of local residents.

Some situations she faced particularly stood out in her memory. In the early years of the country's independence, power outages were frequent, and once she was called to a woman who gave birth in the dark. Nurzhamal described how, in complete darkness, they searched for the newborn, who had been left outside, wrapped in a sheepskin coat. Fortunately, they managed to save the baby.

Another case that remained in the nurse's memory involved a woman who gave birth to five girls. When she had her sixth child, Nurzhamal congratulated the father on the long-awaited son, which brought him indescribable joy.

In the early years of independence, when access to medical care was difficult, Nurzhamal often stayed overnight with seriously ill patients, as ambulances could not always arrive promptly. She knew what medications each of the patients had and helped them when necessary.

Over time, the medical infrastructure improved: now hospitals and FAPs operate more efficiently, and qualified specialists work in the area. Nurzhamal continues to pursue her profession and studies medical literature in her free time, finding much of interest in it.
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