Gulmira Alisherova, the director of the Talas Regional Center for HIV and Hepatitis Control, reported an annual increase in the number of registered HIV cases. This is due to successful population testing initiatives. Over the past five years, the number of people tested has risen from 14,215 in 2019 to 25,281 in 2024, and in the first nine months of 2025, 20,121 people were tested. During this period, 33 new cases were registered, of which 23 were identified in Bishkek, which is a significant figure considering the population size.
According to Alisherova, most people prefer to get tested in private clinics or in the capital. Currently, 143 patients are registered at the center, of which 82% were infected through sexual contact. There are also 7 children registered who contracted the virus from their mothers, many of whom are migrants and only learned of their diagnosis in the maternity hospital.
Since 2020, all pregnant women have the opportunity to undergo free HIV testing twice, and their partners once. Additionally, citizens seeking medical assistance can be tested for HIV based on medical indications.
Gulmira Alisherova also noted that efforts to combat the spread of HIV infection include working with drug-dependent individuals in collaboration with law enforcement agencies. However, she stated that it is impossible to completely prevent the sexual transmission of the virus. "We strive for early diagnosis, timely treatment, and achieving a state where a person with HIV cannot transmit the virus to others. We actively organize informational campaigns in mosques, universities, high school senior classes, and youth committees. Overcoming stigma and discrimination is also important," she added.
