Kyrgyzstan Grapples with Rising HIV Cases, Launches Enterprising New Prevention Program
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Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan – Kyrgyz health authorities are racing against time to curb a worrying resurgence of HIV infections within the country, especially among children. Faced with a 50% increase in cases sence 2019,the government is now considering a comprehensive “HIV Fight Program for 2026-2030” aimed at stemming what officials fear could become a full-blown health crisis.
As of July 1, 2025, over 14,300 people in the Kyrgyz Republic are living with HIV, a figure that includes nearly 878 minors – a staggering 90% of whom are under the age of 14, according to the Ministry of Health. This sharp rise in pediatric cases is fueling particular concern, prompting calls for urgent legislative action and increased resources.
The primary drivers of the spread are linked to drug use, unprotected sex, and limited access to healthcare. Data indicates a notable shift in transmission routes, with sexual transmission accounting for 90% of new infections in 2024, up from 73% in 2019.
While mortality rates related to HIV have decreased by 45% over the past decade, progress in screening and treatment coverage is proving insufficient to counteract the escalating infection rate. Tragically, 136 children have already succumbed to the virus.
addressing a Crisis: Compensation and Support for Affected Families
The growing crisis has prompted the government to take initial steps to support affected families. A recent legal act provides compensation of up to 100,000 SOMS (approximately €971.50) to parents of infected children, alongside free medical care. As of September 2025, 397 families have received this allowance. Furthermore, the Ministry of Health is exploring plans to provide social housing for children and families impacted by HIV.
though, experts warn that current treatment coverage remains critically low, particularly for children, reaching only around 50% of those in need.meerim Sarybaeva, the Kyrgyz manager of the UNAIDS partner organization ONUIDA, emphasized the urgency, stating that without increased action, the country risks a surge in mortality and a widening of existing health inequalities.
“Objective 2030”: A New National Strategy
In response to the escalating situation, the Kyrgyz Council of Ministers published a draft resolution on September 4, 2025, outlining the “HIV-shaped program and viral hepatitis transmitted by blood for 2026-2030.” The program’s ambitious goal is to “reduce the impact and mortality of HIV by 30% compared to 2024.”
The details of the program are still under public debate, but it represents a crucial step towards addressing the growing HIV epidemic in kyrgyzstan. The success of this initiative will depend on sustained funding, improved access to healthcare, and a concerted effort to address the underlying social and economic factors driving the spread of the virus.
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Further Reading:
* In Tajikistan, the discrimination of women with HIV
* [Switzerland allocates five million Swiss francs to improve the Kyrgyz health system](https://nov
