Choosing Health: HIV Prevention Among Youth

December 17, 2025

On December 17, 2025, in the Karasai District, in the village of Zhibek Zholy, an information and educational seminar titled “Youth for Health and a Future Without HIV!” was held for students of grades 8–11 at the secondary schools named after B. Momyshuly, A. Baitursynuly, and Y. Altynsarin.

A total of 722 students and 46 teachers took part in the seminar.

During the meeting, students were provided with detailed and accessible information about the routes of HIV transmission, ways to reduce the risk of infection, sexually transmitted infections, as well as the importance of timely testing and developing a responsible attitude toward their own health.

The main goal of the event was to foster among adolescents a reliable, open, and informed understanding of issues related to HIV and other infectious diseases. As global experience shows, knowledge and awareness are the most effective tools for prevention.

Special attention was given to dispelling myths about HIV. “HIV infection has no social boundaries — it can affect anyone. Therefore, it is crucial to cultivate a responsible attitude toward health among adolescents, develop safe behavior skills, and increase awareness of reproductive and mental health issues,” emphasized N. Kassymov, an epidemiologist at the AIDS Center.

HIV prevention is a shared responsibility of the healthcare and education systems, parents, and young people themselves. Such events in the Almaty Region contribute to raising adolescents’ awareness and fostering strong motivation to maintain good health.

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