Interactive HIV Awareness Programme for Young People in Petropavlovsk

November 20, 2025

An interactive concert programme dedicated to the World AIDS Campaign was held at the City House of Culture in Petropavlovsk. The 2025 theme — “From Challenges to Transformations in the HIV Response” — inspired a creative and engaging event for young people.

The programme was organized by the North Kazakhstan Regional Centre for HIV Prevention, with the support of the Department of Education of the Akimat of North Kazakhstan Region, the Public Association “Phoenix”, the regional branch of the NGO “Answer”, and the Youth Resource Centre of Petropavlovsk. The participants were students from city colleges.

The event opened with welcoming remarks from Mamadïyar Baigulov, Acting Director of the Regional Centre for HIV Prevention. Karlygash Akinova, Head of the Department for Treatment, Prevention, and Dispensary Services at the Centre, highlighted the importance of this year’s theme:

“The theme ‘From Challenges to Transformations in the HIV Response’ symbolically reflects the global call for meaningful and decisive action. The international community continues to move toward an important goal — ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. To reach this goal, we must act now. The main purpose of our event is to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS, promote prevention and social responsibility, and inspire young people to take part in global initiatives. HIV is not just a diagnosis — it is a challenge to society, a test of its maturity, awareness, and compassion.”

Hosts Ruslan Adiyatov and Oksana Simukhina, specialists from the Regional HIV Centre, kept the audience actively engaged throughout the event.

Student teams took part in a quiz, created bright and motivating slogans for HIV awareness in the “One-Minute Slogan” contest, performed silent theatrical sketches on the theme of health in the “Mini-Theatre of Emotions” competition, and came up with creative and positive interpretations of the abbreviations HIV, AIDS, and Healthy Lifestyle (ZОZh) in the “Decode the Abbreviation” challenge. The artistic performances by students of the College of Arts added a special atmosphere to the event.

At the end of the programme, participants received souvenirs from the organizers.

The interactive concert programme encouraged students to look at HIV prevention from a new perspective, express their creativity, and reflect on the importance of each individual’s contribution to building a healthy and informed generation.

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