The first visit of our partners from Kyrgyzstan

During the Friday dinner, to which we invited guests from Kyrgyzstan to our home, we discussed the details of the project "Veterinary Expeditions - Kyrgyzstan 2018". The representatives of the government administration were also very interested in our proposal to help us develop a national program aimed at reducing the population of stray dogs. They admitted that the measures taken so far, which were limited to culling of stray dogs, did not bring lasting results while consuming significant financial resources. Despite the fact that our guests from Biskeh were very tired – because of time difference between Biskek and Warsaw, earlier meetings in the National Chamber of Medicine and Veterinary in Warsaw, and a five-hour drive from Warsaw to Gorzów Wielkopolski – the dinner lasted until late at night, and the conversations were very lively. The idea of inviting the delegation to a private home for dinner was warmly welcomed by our guests.

A big surprise for us was the degree of preparation of our guests for the meeting with us. They shared information which was previously unavailable to us, and which will certainly contribute to the success of our project. We were able to verify official statistical data on the population of stray dogs, furthermore, Dr. Kubatbek mentioned that he had already organized meetings in Kyrgyzstan for local veterinarians during which he observed great interest in our project and trainings. He also admitted that one of the problems faced by Kyrgyz doctors is lack of equipment. Hence our idea to raise money for purchasing and handing over of at least 2 autoclaves, used for sterilization of surgical instruments. Everyone agreed that the high value of both our project and the proposed initial assumptions of the national program to reduce the population of stray dogs is their wider impact, and the objective is not only to improve wellbeing of dogs, but to increase the safety of residents in the first place.

On Saturday, at 8:00 a.m. we took our guests on a short trip around the area. They were particulary fond of the architecture and wildlife of the Lubskie region, however, it was difficult for them to get used to the flat landscape, devoid of mountains. We visited a turkey breeding farm, a leading dairy farm, and two veterinary clinics. The two owners of the veterinary clinics, Andrzej Lisowski and Daniel Figiel had an opportunity to exchange the technical know-how with Dr. Kubatbek Mamatkulow. The culmination of our meeting was a dinner in a restaurant where our guests had a chance to taste the Polish cuisine, followed by a visit to a nearby shopping mall, to buy small gifts for family and friends in Kyrgyzstan.

We said goodbye on Saturday, late in the afternoon, full of confidence that our cooperation will be successfull.

It was a very intense weekend for everyone.

We would like to thank the President of Medivet S.A. Ms. Karolina Brodziak and Dr. Oksana Bublyk for their enormous organizational support, without which our meeting would not run so smoothly. Oksana accompanied our guests as a translator throughout their visit in Poland. Thank you, Ms. Brodziak, thank you, Oksana !!!