The incidence of HIV among people who inject drugs in Akmola region has almost halved

November 21, 2023

The incidence of HIV among people who inject drugs in the region has almost halved, medical workers of the Akmola Regional Center for HIV Prevention reported at a briefing in the Regional Communication Service.

It is worth saying that the speech of medical workers was dedicated to the World AIDS Day, which takes place annually on the first of December.

This is a very important and significant date for people living with HIV, communities with increased risks of infection, medical workers and civil activists. It is not for nothing that the slogan of this year, proposed by UNAIDS, sounds like "Community leadership".

According to international experts, the world can end AIDS if communities lead the fight. Therefore, it is necessary to pay special attention to the development of communities and granting them the right to participate in the development and monitoring of HIV prevention programs.

It is worth saying that the Harm Reduction program is actively working in the Akmola region, aimed at preventing the disease among communities or so-called key population groups.

More than 950 people have been covered by the preventive program for ten months of 2023. Thanks to the coordinated work of the medical staff of the center, together with volunteers from among the communities and persons with access to the environment of the clients of the preventive program, who are called outreach workers, it was possible to achieve a reduction in the incidence among people who inject drugs almost twice. If in 2020 injecting drug use accounted for 33% of newly detected cases, then in 2021 – 26%, in 2022 – 18%.

"Such a symbiosis of medical workers and outreach workers in the prevention of HIV infection among key population groups contributes to improving the epidemiological situation in our region," says the chief physician of the center Kurmanbek Burmaganov.

By the way, the chief physician of the medical organization dispelled some myths related to the work of the preventive program. 

According to him, at first glance it may seem that risky injecting and sexual behavior is encouraged in this way. However, our preventive work is primarily based on motivating the program's clients to abandon risky sexual and injectable behavior by informing them about the risks of infection with HIV infection, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections. But if a harm reduction participant is not ready to stop using drugs, we do not condemn him, but try to establish a trusting relationship with the client of the program, offering harm reduction services – distribution of syringes with collection of used for disposal, condoms and lubricants, information booklets, as well as testing for HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections by.

"In Akmola region, HIV prevention is carried out in two directions - it is informing about the risks of infection and preventive measures for the entire population and key groups," said Balgyn Sarbasova, head of the Department of Preventive Work.

As the speaker noted, prevention of HIV infection among the population is carried out with extensive use of social advertising, including the placement of banners, rotation of videos and audio clips in public places, as well as information campaigns with rapid testing.

According to the doctor, especially Kokshetau residents liked the information campaigns that we hold in crowded places. The peculiarity of these events is that in addition to useful information, everyone can undergo rapid HIV testing and find out their status at the venue of the action.

In conclusion, the medical staff of the center called on all people to follow simple preventive measures and adhere to safe sexual and injecting behavior. Do not engage in early sexual intercourse, have one sexual partner, always use a condom for all types of sexual contact. And, of course, treats people living with HIV with understanding and support.

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