Public Fund "Aman-Saulyk" holds public hearings in Almaty

Almaty, Kazakhstan - June 7, 2016, PF "Aman-saulik" in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republican Center for AIDS Prevention and Control, the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Addiction of the Republic of Kazakhstan, OYL "Kazakhstan Union people living with HIV "in the USAID" Initiative to Support Effective Governance "program in Almaty. Public hearings on supportive treatment for drug users in order to prevent HIV and AIDS and reduce the level of HIV arco-dependence among people who use injecting drugs.

Today, drug use and the increase in the spread of HIV infection are a serious problem of public health in the Republic of Kazakhstan. In our country, the HIV epidemic extends mainly to vulnerable populations, among injecting drug users and their sexual partners, sex workers, men who have sex with men. According to estimates, the number of injecting drug users is more than 127,000 people, and according to official figures - 18,906, which is 6 times less. To treat addiction in Kazakhstan, as in the whole world, different approaches and methods are being used, including opioid substitution therapy (OST) with the use of methadone. OST has been used in the world since the late 1960s. This method of treatment is well studied and its effectiveness has long been proven by numerous studies.

OST allows to:

• reduce or stop the use of illegal drugs, which leads to a decrease in the level of crime and criminal activity among LUIN;

• reduce the risk of overdose, and hence the mortality rate;

• improve the quality of life and health of those who take substitution therapy;

• improve adherence to treatment for diseases requiring long-term treatment (HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis).

In addition, the economic effectiveness of OST is also proved in comparison with traditional inpatient drug treatment.

Since 2008, in Kazakhstan, as a pilot project to provide OST in several regions. Today he works in 10 cities where methadone sites are open. In total, the program covers 295 drug addicts.

"All these people suffer from long-term drug dependence, many are repeatedly convicted, some are infected with HIV. They made many attempts to get rid of addiction, but could not. The last and only hope was methadone. Thanks to the project, these people, once thrown out to the side of life, rejected even by their relatives, returned to society, stopped stealing and robbing, started working, they found families and the meaning of life, "said Nurali Amanzholov, President of the KazZoyuz Union of PLWH.

Meanwhile, a very negative image of OST, in particular methadone, has developed in society. Until now, OST is not open in the largest city of the republic - Almaty, where the drug situation is quite tense, and the rate of HIV infection is highest in the country. The purpose of the public hearings is to raise awareness about the results of the pilot project and to find out its prospects for further development in the RK. Public hearings have already taken place in a number of cities.

Representatives of the expert and medical community, heads of the republican and city AIDS centers, the Almaty Health Department, the Republican Scientific and Practical Center of Psychiatry, psychotherapy and narcology, representatives of international and non-governmental public organizations, outreach workers of the Center will take part in the public hearings in Almaty. AIDS in Almaty, clients of the OST program.

Public Hearings will be held on June 7 (Tuesday), 2016, at 9.30 in the conference hall "Altyn Emel" of the hotel "Kazakhstan", Almaty, at 52/2 Dostyk Avenue.

Registration starts at 9.30. Representatives of the media are invited to this event.

For information, please call: +7 (727) 292-04-85, +7 (727) 220-71-87 amansaulyk@mail.ru (Public organization "Aman-saulik", Almaty, Baitursynov street, Gabdullina str., 145/26, 1 floor, office 110, 112).

Attention! Dear journalists during the event there will be special conditions for video and photo shootings, with which the organizers of the event will acquaint you during the registration.