On December 4, the International Volunteer Network Y-PEER KAZAKHSTAN, in partnership with Astana Medical University and the Alliance of Women's Forces, is holding a forum dedicated to World AIDS Day at Astana Medical University.
Y-PEER is an international youth volunteer network operating in Kazakhstan since 2003 on the principle of "peer-to-peer", with the technical support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). In 2023, the project was merged with the platform Uyatemes.kz Y-PEER Kazakhstan volunteer trainers teach adolescents and young people about gender equality, family planning, sexual and reproductive health and violence prevention, bullying, STI prevention, addiction and healthy lifestyle promotion through the development of leadership qualities and coaching skills.
This forum was organized by young people for young people. It provides a platform for discussing a wide range of topics related to prevention, treatment, awareness and combating stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS.
The forum brought together leading experts, public health figures, activists and people openly living with HIV. The forum participants will be able to discuss key issues and propose new initiatives in the fight against infection.
This event was prepared not only for AIDS Day, but also timed to coincide with the International Volunteer Day on December 5. This year, the International Volunteer Day is held under the motto "The power of collective action: if everyone could make their contribution."
- As you know, volunteering or volunteering is a huge renewable resource for solving social, economic and environmental problems around the world. When the world is faced with growing problems, volunteers are often the first to come to the rescue. Volunteers find themselves at the forefront of dealing with crises and emergencies, often in very difficult and difficult situations.
If everyone volunteered, the world would be a better place. Imagine if more than eight billion people volunteered. Thanks to this, it is possible to create limitless opportunities for sustainable development — food and education for all, a clean environment and good health, inclusive and peaceful societies, etc., - said Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Aigul Zhunusova.
For reference. In 2022, about 630,000 people died from AIDS-related complications, and 39 million people are currently living with HIV-positive status. People living with HIV are still being unreasonably shunned, stigmatized and discriminated against due to a lack of knowledge about the ways the virus is transmitted.
According to USAID estimates, 35 thousand people in Kazakhstan are living with HIV infection, about 30 thousand are aware of their status and about 25 thousand are taking antiretroviral therapy. According to the Ministry of Health, 3,877 new cases were registered in 2022, while men are detected 2 times more than women. 82% of the working-age population aged 18-49 years.
At the same time, according to the United Nations Population Fund, 91% of sexually active young people do not have sufficient knowledge about HIV infection. Therefore, in Kazakhstan, as in the whole of Central Asia, the growth of new infections continues, while the global trend is decreasing.
