HIV epidemic on rise in Kyrgyzstan

HIV / AIDS epidemic in Kyrgyzstan is on rise. Director of AIDS Republican Center Ulan Kadyrbekov announced today at a press conference of 24.kg news agency.

According to him, as of January 1, 2017 there have been registered 7,117 HIV cases in the republic. "These are the people who have been detected since 1987. At least 6,747 of them are the citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic. A part of these people has left the country for all these years, 1,564 people have died. Currently, there are 5,553 HIV positive living people and 580 children with HIV. At least 3,500 people are registered at dispensary. 2, 668 people undergo antiretroviral therapy," Ulan Kadyrbekov informed.

He noted that there is unhealthy excitement around the figures on detection of HIV-infected in the country now. "There have been detected 720 HIV positives in 2016, but this was achieved thanks to improvement of the detection work. At least 362,000 people have been tested for the year," the head of the center added. 

"The most important thing is that the problem will remain relevant without the participation of the population. Citizens must understand that preventive measures largely depend on them. It is necessary to lead a healthy life, have safe behavior," Ulan Kadyrbekov stressed.

"The problem of public financing remains extremely important. Government funding is gradually increasing, but not enough," he admitted.