90 percent of people living with HIV in Kazakhstan have suppressed viral load

March 1, 2024

 On March 1, the day of "Zero Discrimination" is celebrated on the initiative of UNAIDS. This year's motto is "To protect everyone's health, to protect everyone's rights."

          The guarantees of the State on the protection of rights, the prevention of any form of discrimination in connection with HIV are enshrined at the legislative level in the Constitution and the Code on the Health of the People and the Healthcare System of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The country is implementing the UNAIDS 95-95-95 strategy, which aims to provide HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care. Today, 82 percent of people living with HIV know their status, 88 percent of them are taking antiretroviral therapy (ART), 90 percent of people living with HIV have suppressed viral load. 

An innovative type of prevention is being introduced in all regions of the country – pre-contact. Thanks to the project of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, 15 laboratories of the regional HIV prevention Centers received automated PCR equipment. Every year, more and more representatives of key population groups (people who inject drugs, sex workers, men who have sex with men) are being tested for HIV. 98% of women with HIV give birth to healthy children. ART is becoming more accessible, which is prescribed to patients immediately after diagnosis and is provided free of charge.

           - All these results could have been much more significant if the level of HIV-related stigma and discrimination in society had not been high. Today, it is necessary to focus on the complete elimination of discrimination. This will contribute to a significant reduction in the growth rate of HIV infection," said Bauyrzhan Baiserkin, Director of the Kazakh Scientific Center for Dermatology and Infectious Diseases of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In 2024, Zero Discrimination Day is celebrated in the world for the tenth time. Protecting the rights of every human being is our common responsibility. We can end HIV if everyone's rights are protected.

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