Preventive Meetings Dedicated to the World AIDS Memorial Day in North Kazakhstan Region

May 19, 2026

Specialists of the HIV Prevention Center continue their awareness-raising work among school students aimed at HIV prevention and promoting a responsible attitude toward personal health.

In the lead-up to the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day, observed annually on the third Sunday of May, this work becomes especially important. This year, specialists of the Center, together with the Youth Resource Center of Petropavlovsk, held a series of тематical meetings in schools across the regional center of the North Kazakhstan Region.

During the events, students were informed about HIV prevention, the importance of taking responsibility for their health, and why it is essential to prevent stigma and discrimination against other people, including those living with HIV.

To help students better understand the information, various formats were used, including presentations and video materials. The students also took part in thematic games and quizzes to reinforce their new knowledge.

The meetings were held at Secondary School No. 2, Al-Farabi School-Lyceum, Secondary School No. 32, Secondary School No. 7, and the Specialized Kazakh School-Gymnasium named after Abai Kunanbayev.

The total outreach of the events amounted to about 300 participants.

“It is very important to speak openly and accessibly with teenagers, helping them build knowledge about HIV prevention. Such meetings are also a good opportunity for students to ask specialists questions directly and receive professional answers. A lack of knowledge can lead to risky behavior, stigma, and discrimination against people living with HIV. Therefore, open dialogue with specialists and clear explanations of the topic help shape a responsible attitude toward personal health and toward others,” noted Oksana Simukhina, specialist at the HIV Prevention Center.

The work in this area will continue.

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