The number of HIV-positive people almost doubled in Kyrgyzstan between February 2008 and February 2009, according to a report by the National Statistics Committee of Kyrgyzstan (NSCK).
The report on the socio-economic situation in the country - updated by the NSCK monthly - said in March 2009 that the number of people who had tested positive for HIV between January and February 2009 was 1.9 per 100,000 people, while during the same period of 2008 only one person per 100,000 had tested positive.
Deputy director of the National AIDS Association Aigul Ismailova told IRIN in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, the number of people registered HIV-positive had virtually doubled, but that the real number of those with HIV was probably even higher.
“This means that more people with risky and dangerous behaviour are coming to medical institutions to get tested,” she said, explaining however that this did not mean there was an epidemic or that the morbidity rate was rising.
The government and civil society organisations are coordinating their efforts to bear down on HIV/AIDS, according to Ismailova.
“We work closely with NGOs on syringe exchange programmes among injecting drug users and conduct methadone [substitution] programmes. Our specialists also appear on TV and speak to the media about HIV/AIDS and its prevention,” she said.
Aida Karipova, an expert with the Bishkek-based Sotsium NGO explained the possible reasons for the survey outcome and made some other observations:
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The report on the socio-economic situation in the country - updated by the NSCK monthly - said in March 2009 that the number of people who had tested positive for HIV between January and February 2009 was 1.9 per 100,000 people, while during the same period of 2008 only one person per 100,000 had tested positive.
Deputy director of the National AIDS Association Aigul Ismailova told IRIN in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, the number of people registered HIV-positive had virtually doubled, but that the real number of those with HIV was probably even higher.
“This means that more people with risky and dangerous behaviour are coming to medical institutions to get tested,” she said, explaining however that this did not mean there was an epidemic or that the morbidity rate was rising.
The government and civil society organisations are coordinating their efforts to bear down on HIV/AIDS, according to Ismailova.
“We work closely with NGOs on syringe exchange programmes among injecting drug users and conduct methadone [substitution] programmes. Our specialists also appear on TV and speak to the media about HIV/AIDS and its prevention,” she said.
Aida Karipova, an expert with the Bishkek-based Sotsium NGO explained the possible reasons for the survey outcome and made some other observations:
- it was possible that fewer cases had been detected earlier due to imperfections in the system immediately after its introduction;
- the current focus was on detection among high risk groups;
- new Health Ministry regulations stipulated that all registered pregnant women must be tested for HIV;
- preventive measures needed to be taken among both high risk groups and the population as a whole;
- HIV/AIDS awareness may be high in Bishkek, but was much lower elsewhere;
- all children admitted to hospitals in Osh Province, southern Kyrgyzstan, were tested for HIV (a measure prompted by the mass infection of children in Nookat District hospital in April 2008 after contaminated blood was used for blood transfusions).
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This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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