On August 11, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening of the Nakhchivan Regional DOST Center of the Agency for Sustainable and Operative Social Provision (DOST Agency) under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population.

Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population Anar Aliyev briefed the head of state and the First Lady on the facilities at the center.

It was noted that 164 social services will be provided to the population at the center. With a total staff of 117 employees and 50 volunteers, the center is expected to serve an average of 500–600 citizens per day.

All services are organized on a “one-stop-shop” principle and will be delivered to Nakhchivan residents in a convenient, prompt, and accessible manner. This approach enables the transparent provision of various social services—including pensions, labour and employment, social benefits, disability, adoption, and other services—all under one roof.

The center will also conduct medical-social assessments for persons with disabilities, provide them with rehabilitation equipment tailored to their individual needs, and make referrals to specialized rehabilitation facilities to ensure access to rehabilitation services.

The head of state and the First Lady also inspected prostheses manufactured by leading international companies. These prostheses enable users to move naturally, freely, and safely, adapt to various surfaces and speeds, and integrate more quickly into social life and employment. To date, more than 620 high-tech prostheses have been provided to over 500 servicemen. In addition, nearly 300 war-disabled individuals have regained their health thanks to high-tech rehabilitation and medical-social services.

In Azerbaijan, the provision of high-tech prostheses to persons with war-related disabilities was initiated by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, renowned for its noble activities.

As a result of the state’s social protection policy aimed at improving the provision of rehabilitation equipment to persons with disabilities, the range of rehabilitation devices has increased from 57 to 130. Since the beginning of this year, individuals with disabilities have been provided with nearly 300,000 different types of rehabilitation equipment.

The head of state and the First Lady also viewed an exhibition featuring handicrafts—including wood carving, carpet weaving, pottery, fine arts, stained glass, floristry, and other art forms—created by beneficiaries of the ministry’s inclusive centers. The online sale of these handicrafts is conducted via the “dostart.az” portal, established to uncover the creative potential and support the economic activity of vulnerable groups, thereby significantly contributing to their integration into the labour market.

President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva were also presented with the project for the Nakhchivan DOST Inclusive Development and Creativity Center, which is planned to be established on the basis of the Nakhchivan Regional Information Center.

It was noted that social skills development services, currently provided to persons with disabilities in 13 areas, are planned to be expanded to 20 areas at the new center.

Social reforms implemented in Azerbaijan in recent years have received high international acclaim and have been recognized with more than 300 awards and certificates from various international organizations. Among these is the UN Public Service Award for the initiative “Inclusive and Equal Social Security Services for All.”

Created on the initiative of First Lady of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva, DOST centers have ushered in a qualitatively new stage in the delivery of social services. To date, these centers have provided 164 types of services, delivering a total of 4.6 million social services to citizens, with a customer satisfaction rate of approximately 99%.

Efforts to expand the DOST network across the country are currently ongoing. Between 2026 and 2027, DOST reception offices are scheduled to be established in all district centers of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, while an extensive service network comprising 18 DOST centers, including 60 branches and service points, is planned to be established nationwide by 2030.