UNODC commemorated World AIDS Day in Uzbekistan

World AIDS Day is held on 1 December each year and is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day and the first one was held in 1988. Each World AIDS Day focuses on a specific theme, which this year is “Equalize”.

On 7 December 2022, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Regional Office for Central Asia in cooperation with the Republican Informational Educational Centre ‘Intilish’ hosted an information session for students of Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT) on the occasion of World AIDS Day. The main objective of the event was to raise awareness on prevention of risky behavior and HIV.

The students and the coordinators of the Student Social Engagement Section of WIUT were introduced to basic concepts of stimulant drugs, their effects and health risks, HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support interventions.

 At the opening session, Mashkhura Saipova, UNODC ROCA National Programme Officer, highlighted the global increase in new HIV infections among young people, the current HIV/AIDS situation worldwide and in Central Asia. Mashkhura Saipova and Tatiana Nikitina, Director of the Republican Informational Educational Centre ‘Intilish’, then discussed with students the definition of HIV/AIDS, HIV prevalence and incidence, identification, and testing for HIV/AIDS; HIV transmission; and prevention of risky behavior related to the use of both traditional and synthetic drugs that are slowly filling the country's illicit market.

 Discussions were followed by educational games on HIV with the active involvement of all participants, which gave them the opportunity to check their knowledge of HIV/AIDS, how HIV is transmitted and how to protect themselves from HIV. The winners of the contests were awarded with special prizes.

 The information session was drafted by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and UNODC, based on evidence-based HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support. 

 The event was organized as part of Sub-Programme 3 - "Prevention and treatment of drug use, disorders and HIV/AIDS prevention” of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia 2022-2025 with the financial support of UNAIDS.

 Additional information: 

 The inequalities which perpetuate the AIDS pandemic are not inevitable; we can tackle them. This World AIDS Day, 1 December, UNODC ROCA joins the urge to address the inequalities which are holding back progress in ending AIDS.

• Improve access, availability and acceptability of prevention, treatment & rehabilitation services for drugs, HIV/AIDS.

• Reform laws, policies, and practices to tackle the stigma and exclusion faced by people living with HIV and by key and marginalized populations, so that everyone is shown respect and is welcomed.

• Ensure the sharing of technology to enable equal access to the best HIV science.

More about UNODC work on HIV and AIDS: http://bit.ly/3uj7DWZ; https://bit.ly/3ERJfAw

For further information please contact:     

Arifa Fatikhova  

Communications and External Relations Officer

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) 

Regional Office for Central Asia

Mobile: (+998 99) 825-05-43 | Email: arifa.fatikhova[at]un.org