December 1 – the World Day of struggle against AIDS.

In the whole World great efforts are directed for stabilization of epidemic process development and HIV/AIDS epidemic restraint. In 2008 year, was held a number of significant events, where taking of responsibility had a decisive meaning. Particularly there was held General Meeting’s plenary conference on top level on AIDS problems. On the conference there was estimated implementation of Declaration, devoted to struggle against HIV/AIDS, taken in 2001.

The World day of struggle against AIDS is a day, when all people of the World co-operate with a single aim – to spread knowledge about AIDS and express general solidarity in the face of terrible pandemia.
December 1 – the World day of struggle against AIDS, in this year has been conducted for the 20-th time in Kazakhstan as well as in the whole World. Worldwide campaign of 2008 year on struggle against AIDS has been conducted under device: “To be in the first rows – to afford opportunities – to manage task”.
The World campaign against AIDS sets a task of development of solidarity and collaboration between its participants, guaranteeing result on national, regional and international levels.
In the Republic of Kazakhstan the first event of HIV-infection was registered in 1987, at an ever-increasing rate for November 1, 2008 in Kazakhstan with progressive total 11369 HIV-infected people have been officially registered. From this number there are 228 children under 14 years old. From 791 of AIDS-infected, 617 people have died from AIDS.
At present HIV/AIDS is registered in all regions of Kazakhstan. The biggest registration is noted in 4 regions, it is 65% of morbidity: Karaganda oblast – 2322 cases, South-Kazakhstan oblast – 1420, Pavlodar oblast – 1296 and Almaty – 2373.
As before, the basic part of HIV-infected is injection drug-addicts, infected with HIV by means of using of infected instruments. Their specific weight is 70.3%. Infection occurs among socially active age groups from 20 to 39 years, spesific weight of which is 86.3%. Among HIV-infected unemployed persons prevail – 73,1%. At the same time there is noted increase of sexual way of transmission, which has made up 29.5% for 10 months of 2004 year. For comparison: in 2007 this rate was 19.8%, in 2006 – 24.5%, in 2005 – 16%.
For 10 months of the current year were detected 1993 cases, it is 15.5% higher than for analogical period of the last year.
From the total number of registered HIV-infected persons 73.4% (8348) were men and 26.6% (3021) – women.
Increasing of the number of childbearing age women’ infection excites special trouble. For November 1, 2008 in the Republic 908 HIV-infected pregnant women were registered. In tote in the Republic 606 children were born from HIV-infected women, including 153 children in the current year. According to estimated facts of the World organization, the Republic of Kazakhstan, according to estimation of World Public Health Organization experts, at present is on concentrated stage of epidemic and the level of infection spreading among population exceeds 0.2%, that is five times lower than average rate and four times lower than average level in regions of East Europe and Central Asia.
On the 26-th Special session of General Meeting, was taken a Declaration on devotion to struggle against AIDS. Kazakhstan has jointed to that Declaration. The Declaration proclaims powerful leaders, guaranteeing of treatment and care for HIV-patients, reduction of vulnerability, observance of human right at HIV-infection aspect, preventive orientation of campaigns.
In spite of efforts of all the World scientists, HIV vaccination and medicines, able to cure AIDS, are not worked out yet. The only effective and accessible means of HIV/AIDS prevention are educational programs on increasing of knowledge level on the problem of HIV/AIDS among population.
On December 1 at all schools, high and higher education institutions will be conducted campaigns, devoted to World Day of struggle against AIDS. Conducting educational program among personnel and special contingent of penitentiary institutions.
In connection with existing difficult epidemic situation in the Republic at the given moment it is necessary to understand that HIV/AIDS epidemic depends in responsibility of every person for his (or her) health, chose of behavior form and ability to use measures of individual defense.
Undoubtedly, it is necessary to unite efforts of everyone and introduction of healthy life-style.