AFEW: For journalists >> 1 December - World AIDS Day. 'Live and let live!'

1 December - World AIDS Day. 'Live and let live!'

National Press Club: Almaty, Furmanov Str., 122
28 November 2002
14:00 -16:00
Organisers:
Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Republican AIDS Centre
National Healthy Lifestyle Centre
Supported by AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW)

Press Release

1 December was designated as World AIDS Day in 1988 by the United Nations General Assembly in response to the AIDS pandemic. The slogan this year for the global campaign is 'Live and let live!' Since the pandemic began in the early 1980s, globally more than 65 million of people have been infected with HIV/AIDS, of whom 25 million have already died.

The increasing of number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) poses a number of problems for local and national institutions in terms of the provision of treatment, care and support. One of the primary points of discussion among the international community of those working on issues related to HIV/AIDS has been access to treatment and care for PLWHA.

At present, there are more than 3,100 registered as infected with HIV in Kazakhstan. According to the recent estimates from domestic and international experts, however, the actual number of infected totals more than 30,000. The majority of PLWHA in Kazakhstan do not receive or have access to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy, and must live in fear of the natural progression of this deadly virus. Discrimination towards PLWHA remains a problem, both in terms of violations of their basic human rights and in terms of societal attitudes towards them. Prejudice within the society has led to the stigmatisation of PLWHA. This ultimately has worsened of the situation for Kazakhs suffering from the epidemic, but has also promoted the spread of HIV-infection and created barriers to accessing prevention programmes. Aside from working to overcome stigma and discrimination towards PLWHA, the campaign in Kazakhstan, much as other programmes across the globe, must work to destroy silence and barriers which impede prevention efforts to limit and treatment for those already infected with HIV/AIDS. Only by declaring war against stigma and discrimination, may we be victorious in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Honest talk helps to prevent risky behaviour among youth, and increases mutual understanding regarding HIV-infection, especially among youth aged 15 to 29 years, which currently accounts for 70% of those already infected with HIV/AIDS. More than 80% of PLWHA are the injecting drug users (IDUs). Prejudice and hostile behaviour towards to IDUs, men who have sex with men (MSM), and sex workers (SWs) creates barriers in terms of accessing information on safer forms of behaviour, and decreases the availability of and access to the health related services. International experience demonstrates that a concentration of HIV-infections which occurs at first among a particular group, quickly spreads to the general population.

The Republican AIDS Centre provides prevention measures in order to limit the spread of HIV, and in accordance with the National programme to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Kazakhstan. UNAIDS, USAID, the Soros Foundation, AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW), as well as other non-governmental organisations and other interested companies and persons actively co-operate in these activities.