The Programme is designed to focus primarily on sustainability and national ownership, reduction of vulnerability to HIV through promotion of human rights and gender equality, strengthening the governance component of the national HIV response and mainstreaming AIDS issues in national development policies.
HIV Situation in the Kyrgyz Republic
According to official statistics, HIV prevalence rate is 36 per 100,000 of population in the Kyrgyz Republic. This rate has increased compared to previous years: 2003 - 8.4, 2004 – 11.3, 2005 – 14.4, 2006 – 18.8, 2007 – 26.1. Being a low HIV prevalence country the HIV epidemic continues to invade and it has reached a concentrated stage among injecting drug users (IDU) in the south of the country. During the last five years, the number of officially registered HIV cases has increased by more than 7 times and became 1,871 cases by 1 October 2008. However, WHO estimates the real number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) to be significantly higher - at least 4,500. By 2012, the number of PLHIV could reach 9,600.
The national response to HIV is framed and guided by the State Programme on Prevention of HIV Epidemic and Its Socio-economic Consequences in the Kyrgyz Republic for 2006-2010.
UNDP Programme Achievements (2005-2007)
UNDP has been supporting the country in the national response to HIV from 1997 through various assistance mechanisms, advocating for timely and adequate preventive interventions. Following are some of the achievements which were delivered between 2005 and 2007 with the support of the Programme and in close cooperation with key AIDS actors and partners, grouped by components:
Improving of national policy and legislation on HIV and AIDS:
- In 2005, the government adopted new AIDS Law and amendments to the Law on Social Welfare, meeting the international standards and national interests and, in 2006, approved legal regulations to implement these laws covering issues on HIV-testing and social welfare of HIV victims;
- Respective legislative acts were revised to be in line with the AIDS Law (e.g., Administrative Code amended accordingly in 2007);
- Assistance in development of the State Programme on Prevention of HIV Epidemic and Its Socio-Economic Consequences for 2006-2010 (the government approved the programme in June 2006);
- Updated legal documents and manuals on functions and departmental activities of state authorities and other stakeholders, involved in implementation of the national strategy, were drafted (e.g., on voluntary counseling, drug use harm reduction, system of medical, social and legal services for vulnerable groups, preventive programmes in penitentiary system);
- The Tax Code was amended to create a favorable tax policy for grants implementation;
- Law on Ratification of the Development Grant Agreement was approved by the government and ratified by the Kyrgyz Parliament in 2006.
Comprehensive support and capacity building of partners:
- Support to coordination of activities on preparing of country proposal to 7 Round of Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, AIDS component) was provided, Kyrgyzstan was awarded with the GFATM grant in the amount of USD 28,209,191;
- A professional legal clinic supported by the Programme provided legal services to PLHIV and vulnerable groups;
- Strengthening capacities of focal points to implement the State Programme on AIDS in uniformed services system;
- Religious leaders of remote rural areas were involved in advocacy of HIV/AIDS and reducing stigma/discrimination, after successful completion of special training modules for religious leaders.;
- Technical assistance to five state ministries and agencies to develop а multisectoral approach to HIV was provided;
- Over 40 journalists participated in capacity building seminars, workshops and round tables;
- Manual for journalists How to Cover HIV/AIDS in Mass Media in Russian and Kyrgyz was developed and disseminated among all media organizations and journalists in Bishkek and Osh;
- Love as a Test feature film was published with the UN’s support, disseminated among state agencies, NGOs, mass media, international organizations, PLHIV and presented at the 6th Asian International Film Festival “The Third Eye” in Mumbai (India) and the International Film Festival in Hyderabad (India) to enhance advocacy efforts in HIV prevention;
- Public awareness on AIDS issues was improved at the national level through conducting of media-campaigns by several mass media outlets;
Capacity building of Government in establishing of unified monitoring and evaluation system:
- Assistance to the Government in development of the unified monitoring and evaluation system (including Regulations and State M&E (what is M&E?) Action plan with indicators);
- Provision of consultation for relevant national partners on CRIS information system used for facilitation of monitoring and evaluation process at a country level and UNGASS reporting;
- Relevant M&E (?) specialists involved in process were trained on M&E basics and CRIS software;
- Provincial AIDS centers and the National Statistics Committee were equipped with PC and software;
- Support to Government in preparation of relevant national reports on implementation of Declarations in HIV area.
Way Forward
Building upon the achievements of the 1st phase of the Programme (2005-07), the UNDP Programme “Support to the Government to Respond to HIV in the Kyrgyz Republic” signed the 2nd phase Programme Document (2008-10) aimed at supporting the government in delivering the following results:
1. Vulnerability to HIV is reduced through promotion of human rights and gender equality:
- Improvement of legislation related to protection of rights of PLHIV
- Increased capacity of key mass media representatives on evidence based reporting and sensitivity to key populations at higher risk and PLHIV
- Improved access to legal services of PLHIV
2. The governance component of the national HIV response is strengthened:
- Capacity of key actors in multisectoral response to HIV improved
- Functioning of the Unit/CMCC Secretariat improved
- Implementation of the GFATM HIV programmes accelerated
3. AIDS issues are mainstreamed in national development policies:
- Development and acceptance of strategy for integration of policy analysis in long term strategic planning
- Evidence-based policy advice on AIDS issues
Programme partners
Government: The Government’s Office, ministries, agencies and departments involved in the implementation of the Third State Programme on HIV/AIDS, Ministry of Health, Republican AIDS Center, CMCC
Civil Society: AIDS service NGOs, Legal Clinic ‘Adilet’, Central Asian AIDS Control Project
International: UNAIDS, GFATM, World Bank, Asian Development Bank, German Development Bank, DFID, USAID, Soros Foundation
Figures:
Programme’s Budget for 2008 - 2010: USD 1,118,665
