Early HIV Detection: Pilot Project Launched in Astana

April 27, 2026

A pilot project for the early detection of HIV infection has been launched in the city of Astana on April 1, 2026. The initiative is being implemented by the Public Health Department of Astana. This is the first time the project has been introduced, and it aims to reduce cases of late HIV diagnosis, increase access to testing, and strengthen the role of medical organizations in identifying HIV at early stages.

The relevance of the project is обусловлена тем, что случаи позднего выявления ВИЧ-инфекции по-прежнему регистрируются, leading to complications in treatment, a reduced quality of life for patients, and an increased risk of further transmission. According to specialists, early diagnosis, on the contrary, allows for timely initiation of therapy and significantly improves prognosis.

As part of the project implementation, epidemiologists from the HIV Prevention Center are conducting training seminars in City Multidisciplinary Hospitals No. 1 and No. 3, as well as in Polyclinics No. 7 and No. 14.

During the seminars, speakers cover key aspects of early HIV diagnosis and practical approaches to testing based on clinical indications. Special attention is given to recognizing symptoms, syndromes, diseases, and frequent or recurrent infections that may indicate the presence of HIV. An important part of the training is pre- and post-test counseling aimed at improving patient adherence to testing and treatment.

«Late diagnosis of HIV infection remains one of the key challenges directly affecting patients’ life expectancy and quality of life. This pilot project, implemented for the first time, is designed to change this situation by increasing healthcare workers’ awareness, expanding the practice of testing based on clinical indications, and strengthening the system of early detection. These measures are aimed at improving the quality of medical care, reducing the number of late HIV diagnoses, and developing an effective system for early detection,» noted epidemiologist G.A. Sakupova.

 After November 1 of the current year, the project results will be summarized, and the effectiveness of the implemented approaches will be evaluated in order to further improve the work of medical organizations in this area.

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