An international scientific and practical conference "Innovative measures for HIV prevention and treatment: policy, research, practice" was held in Almaty today.
The conference was organized as part of a worldwide campaign dedicated to World AIDS Day on December 1 under the motto "Choose the right path – the path of human rights". Another significant occasion of the conference is the 35th anniversary of the organization of HIV services in Kazakhstan.
On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the HIV prevention service in Kazakhstan, the Minister of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan Akmaral Alnazarova addressed the conference participants. "Thanks to your work, Kazakhstan has made a significant contribution to the fight against HIV infection, becoming part of the global community striving to eradicate this threat. People living with HIV have received hope, help and support for a full and long life," the Minister said.
"Last year, for the first time, there was a decrease in the rate of increase in HIV registration. At the beginning of 2024, 32,659 people living with HIV were registered in the republic. Mother-to-child transmission of HIV decreased from 3.6% to 1.6%. The death rate from AIDS has decreased by a quarter. All 12 preventive programs recommended by WHO have been implemented in Kazakhstan, including pre-contact prophylaxis," said Ulugbek Medeubekov, Acting Director of the CDC.
HIV infection in the country remains stable and under control. To strengthen the process, it is necessary to expand preventive work in Youth health centers, PHC, and private medical centers. Early detection of the disease is an important priority in the prevention and treatment of HIV infection. Regular HIV testing should become a fashionable trend, especially for young people.
The conference became a fruitful platform for the exchange of experience and best practices in the field of prevention of HIV infection and dermatovenereological diseases.
The discussions focused on the implementation of triple elimination (HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B) from mother to child, the development of successful interventions against stigma to key population groups, improving prevention and others.
The participants discussed innovative approaches to HIV testing, the use of elements of social marketing, crowdsourcing, and interactive methods in schools in the prevention of HIV infection.
The forum was organized by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kazakh Scientific Center of Dermatology and Infectious Diseases (KNCDIZ), the Association "Public Health". The conference was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Health, government and non-governmental organizations, international organizations - WHO, UNAIDS, USAID, CDC, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Among the participants are leading experts in the field of HIV infection from Belarus, Germany, Georgia, Denmark, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/dsm/press/news/details/890788