Guest Lecture SDGs in Kazakhstan. Ensuring a Healthy Lifestyle: The Role of the UN, NGOs, and Social Workers

The Department of Sociology and Social Work, the Center for Sociological Research and Social Engineering, and the Gender Education Center held a guest lecture on March 31, 2025, as part of the events aimed at developing effective measures to promote the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Kazakhstan. The lecture was presented by Sholpan Primbetova, Master of Social Work, Deputy Regional Director of the Global Health Studies Center in Central Asia at Columbia University.

The speaker focused on SDG 3 in Kazakhstan, emphasizing the role of the UN, NGOs, and social workers in ensuring health and well-being. She highlighted the main directions, including: reducing maternal and child mortality; fighting infectious diseases (HIV/AIDS, TB); mass vaccination; mental health; prevention and treatment of addictions; development of primary health care (PHC); protection of sexual and reproductive health, including family planning services; access to healthcare for vulnerable groups; monitoring, evaluation, and digitalization.

The lecture particularly emphasized the issue of combating HIV/AIDS and the role of social workers in achieving SDG 3 in Kazakhstan.

The lecture was attended by doctoral students, master’s students, and students in the “Social Work” program.

The event was organized by Dr. N.U. Shedenova, Associate Professor of Sociology, and PhD in Sociology T.A. Morozova.