“HIV Party” Held in East Kazakhstan: A Conversation About Acceptance, Support and a Culture of Health

November 14, 2025

The Kazakhstan-American Free University hosted a facilitated discussion titled “HIV Party 2025” on the theme “Acceptance, Support and a Culture of Health: Living Without Fear.” The event was part of an information and awareness-raising campaign dedicated to World AIDS Day.

The initiative was organized by the East Kazakhstan Regional Centre for Prevention and Control of AIDS. The main goal of the meeting was to increase young people’s awareness of HIV prevention, promote a culture of self-care, and help dismantle stereotypes associated with HIV.

The discussion brought together healthcare professionals, people living with HIV, and a public figure — Gulzhan Bakytbekovna Edilbayeva, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Business, Law and Education at KAFU.

During the meeting, participants explored key topics: acceptance and self-support, the role of family and community in HIV prevention, ways to overcome stigma, and contemporary methods of protection and HIV testing.

The open-dialogue format allowed students to ask questions, share their perspectives and view the issue through the lens of real human experiences.

In closing, participants emphasized that HIV is not a verdict and reminded everyone that self-care and regular HIV testing are essential elements of a responsible approach to one’s health and well-being.

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