Author: Olga Ochneva, Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan marked the World AIDS Day on December 1 under the Slogan “My Health, My Right.” Competitions, quizzes, a flash mob, debates, a race, a fashion show, and meetings with journalists were dedicated to the World AIDS Day. The most surprising thing during these events was the number of people who publicly disclosed their HIV status.
“Live” stories
Every year on the first winter day mass media publish a year’s supply of reports on the situation with HIV and its prevention. This time, the main message in this load of media reports was the topic of fighting stigma against people living with HIV (PLWH). This message was delivered by people who decided to publicly disclose their HIV status and tell their stories. The start to this spontaneous campaign for the freedom from fears, myths and prejudices was given by Baktygul Shukurova in September this year at the National HIV Conference. Baktygul says that she decided to make this step for all PLWH, to refute myths and give people an opportunity to reflect on the fact that everyone has a right to life and health. Back then, Yevgeniy Yuldashev also made a decision to have an open conversation with journalists.
Following the example of his wife Baktygul, Umid Shukurov also disclosed his HIV status during the December 1 campaign in his home town of Kara-Balta. The spouses opened the truth, which they had been hiding for seven years, and that, as they say, helped them to feel free. On November 29, two more women disclosed their status.
Race to support people living with HIV
A charitable race “My Health, My Right” was organized in one of the Bishkek parks with the USAID support. Despite the cold Saturday morning, over two hundred people took part in the three- and six-kilometre races. Participants had a chance to donate some money to buy New Year presents for children living with HIV. The task of this race was to raise the awareness on the need to be responsible about one’s health and to prevent the spread of HIV.
HIV Quiz Night
UNAIDS organized a Quiz Night dedicated to the topic “Right to Health” in the context of HIV. The battle for the title of the smartest brought together 18 teams, each of them making a money contribution. Among the participants, there were teams of journalists, health professionals, students, staff members of AIDS organizations and fans of the Quiz Night game. The participants had to answer 20 questions. Questions about HIV related to the areas of medicine, cinema, history, and music. The best performing team got the game bank and the viewers learned many unexpected facts about HIV and health.
Prevention month
The Republican AIDS Centre dedicated its activities within the month to mark the World AIDS Day to prevention and fighting stigma against PLWH. There was a contest for the best materials on HIV among college and high school students and journalists in three nominations: video, poster, and article. Twenty teams took part in the debate tournament.
Female penal colony against HIV and violence
This day was also marked in the penal institutions. AIDS Foundation East-West in the Kyrgyz Republic organized a creative contest in the female penal colony No. 2. Each team presented a leaflet, a dance, a song and two theatre performances on two cross-cutting topics – how to prevent HIV and how to protect yourself from violence. Women spent a month on working on the scenarios and creating the costumes and, as a result, the event was very informative and impressive.
