Children in Kazakhstan Receive Life-Changing Surgeries Free of Charge with Support from BI Group

Kazakhstan is continuing the social initiative of the BI-Zhuldyzai Foundation, which gives hundreds of children with severe medical conditions a chance at a full life. Under the project, a total of 300 surgeries will be performed at no cost to families.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of BI Group, Aydin Rakhimbaev, shared the moving story of 10-year-old Aruzhan. Since birth, she had been unable to sleep lying down and could only move in a half-seated position. Her family has many children; her father works as a school security guard, while her mother has no possibility to find employment. Covering the cost of a complex surgery was far beyond their means.

“Our BI-Zhuldyzai Foundation invited a surgeon from abroad who, using an American method, placed rods inside the girl’s bones. These rods grow together with the child. For the first time in 10 years, Aruzhan has started walking, playing outside, and even dreaming of becoming a doctor,” Rakhimbaev said.

Aruzhan herself admits the surgery changed her life:

“I dream of walking like my brothers and sisters. I have no other dream. They always help me, bring me water, clothes. I love them very much,” she shared.

Her mother, Araylym Zhexsenbai, recalled the family’s years of worry:

“She would cry and ask me to call the doctor to find out why she couldn’t walk. She slept only sitting up, couldn’t straighten her legs, both sides of her pelvis were turned. After the surgery, her legs became straight, and for the first time in many years she could sleep on her back. Now she walks on her own and plays with her siblings. Later I learned that each rod costs about four million tenge, and we needed two. Of course, we could never afford such a surgery ourselves.”

As part of the project, 28 leading surgeons from Japan, China, Turkey, Israel, Belarus, and Russia have been invited to Kazakhstan. They not only perform complex procedures but also share expertise with local doctors.

Planned interventions include 219 surgeries for children with limb deformities, 37 heart and vascular surgeries, and 44 surgeries for children with anorectal malformations.

Recently, the initiative marked a milestone with its 200th surgery performed in Aktau.

“Yes, these procedures cost us hundreds of millions of tenge, but the health of a child is priceless. Twelve years ago, we started by helping the children of our employees, and today we save hundreds of young lives across the country every year,” Rakhimbaev noted.

He emphasized that the program has become a true platform for knowledge exchange and an important step forward for Kazakhstan’s healthcare system.

“In BI Group’s anniversary year, this means 300 children whose lives we have changed forever, and 300 families whose burden has become lighter. May it serve the children well. Grow up healthy, play, and laugh without worries. May every step be light, and your future — bright,” he added.