In Kyrgyzstan, the Republican Center for the Control of Hematogenic Viral Hepatitis and HIV detects about a thousand new cases of HIV each year. Despite the fact that many still perceive HIV as a deadly disease, it has long been considered chronic. One can live with it, managing the situation just as one does with diabetes or hypertension—the main thing is not to delay treatment.
These thoughts are shared by my interlocutor, 33-year-old Damira, who has been living with HIV for over three years. Before our meeting, I felt anxious: how to ask the right questions without hurting her feelings. Many patients at the center refused to talk to journalists, but Damira was ready. Upon meeting her, I realized that my fears were unfounded. She herself set a positive and trusting tone for our conversation. Despite the hardships she has endured, her optimism was inspiring.
Damira is a mother of three young children. Her eldest daughter was born in 2020, and everything in her life was going well. But in 2022, during childbirth, she was given a rapid HIV test, which turned out to be positive, and this diagnosis overshadowed the joy of her son's birth.
“I was in shock. I remembered how we were scared of HIV in school—I thought it was a death sentence. Panic engulfed me, leaving no chance for calm. I thought about what would happen to my children, how to tell my husband?” she recalls.
She immediately told her husband about her diagnosis, but he did not believe her and insisted on a retest. The results confirmed her words, while his test turned out negative. This led to a quarrel and his departure. Damira was forced to rent an apartment and move out with the children.
“I had no support left—my mother died, and my relatives turned away when I opened up to them. I hoped for understanding, but that did not happen. I have no idea what I did wrong,” Damira shares.
Damira thought for a long time about how she could have contracted the virus. During her pregnancy, she had a negative test, but a few months before giving birth, she underwent a dental procedure that could have been the source of infection.
After the diagnosis, she fell into depression. For four months, she merely existed while her children needed care. The doctors at the center provided her with great help, particularly her treating physician Erkin Toktosunovich, who convinced her that HIV could be managed. With his help, her viral load decreased, and now it is almost undetectable.
Life began to improve—Damira found a job, and even her husband returned, although only for a short time, as he already had another family.
“I got pregnant again,” she says with a smile. “I didn’t register for prenatal care because I was afraid the doctors would force me to terminate the pregnancy. I took medication, and my daughter was born healthy.” Damira took precautions and did not breastfeed her to avoid possible risks.
Her older children now attend kindergarten, and Damira considers herself happy despite the difficulties. “I have three wonderful children for whom it is worth living,” she says.
The state also supports her—she receives benefits for her youngest child and assistance from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS.
I asked Damira about the perception of HIV in society. “Today's medicine allows people with HIV to live long and normal lives. I take one pill and feel healthy. But society is still not ready to accept us. People are afraid to open up due to judgment and isolation. Even doctors sometimes react inadequately when they learn about the diagnosis,” she replied.
Society lags behind in knowledge about HIV compared to medicine. Fear and prejudice remain, and they need to be dispelled through education, especially among young people. “We are safe for those around us when we take our medication,” Damira emphasized.
There are different ways of transmitting HIV, and it is important to talk about this. “I am ready to help people who have faced the same situation as I have,” she concluded our conversation and then went to work after receiving her medication.
Quick survey vb.kg
After the conversation with Damira, we decided to find out if attitudes towards people with HIV have changed in the country and how ready Kyrgyz people are to communicate with them. We surveyed several visitors to the editorial office of different ages.
Dinara Akmatalieva, merchandise expert, 46 years old:
- HIV can affect anyone. I myself faced hepatitis C and know how easily one can get infected in medical institutions. We must be cautious in hospitals, as HIV is transmitted only in three ways. Why should I be afraid to communicate with HIV-positive people?
Myrlan Kerimbaev, IT specialist, 28 years old:
- I see no problem in communicating with HIV-positive individuals. The virus is not transmitted through casual contact, and there are now effective treatment methods. Stigmatization is outdated thinking.
Narynbek Asanov, mechanic, 35 years old:
- I would not want an HIV-positive person to come to my home. I believe that since it is still unknown how to completely cure HIV, it raises concerns for me.
Nurgul Osmonalieva, notary, 44 years old:
- I believe that the number of HIV-positive people in the country is significantly higher than official data suggests. It is necessary to raise awareness and conduct HIV testing. I myself have not been tested for a long time.
