Advance work has helped ensure the sustainability of treatment

In HIV treatment the most important thing is to ensure its continuity. This primarily means the availability of the necessary medicines for all who need them in sufficient quantities. When the coronavirus pandemic was only gaining momentum, we understood that “continuity of treatment” could be at risk. It was necessary to take proactive steps very quickly. It is worth noting that for many years there has been a very coordinated joint work of the AIDS service, civil society and international partners. This allowed us to organize the process of providing medicines in the country in a matter of days. In the vastness of almost the entire planet, a huge community of civic organizations is working with whom we all work closely. Our international partnerships have provided medicines for our citizens thousands of kilometers from home. Coordination, friendship and cooperation - this is what made it possible in these difficult days so that all citizens of Kyrgyzstan received the necessary medicines for life.
Aybar Sultangaziev Chairman of the ‘Partnership Network’ Association

Task

Kyrgyzstan, like most countries in the world, has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. In the context of this, we had the task of ensuring uninterrupted access to the citizens of Kyrgyzstan, both in the country and forced to stay outside it.

Solution

The ‘Partnership Network’ Association, even before the state of emergency was declared in the country on the 10th of March2020, suggesting future difficulties in providing medicines for PLHIV, patients with tuberculosis and PTM clients, initiated the delivery of drugs for long periods. As a result, the NFC, the AIDS Center issued instructions for the release of ARV medications up to 3 months, and TB medications up to 2 weeks.

In addition, we fully took upon ourselves the coordination of the provision of ARV medications to citizens who are outside the country in migration. Together with our partners from other countries, with the AIDS Center, to date, lists of all PLHIV who are outside the country to whom ARVs are provided have been compiled.

Result

Thanks to the advancing work, there is not a single case of treatment interruption in the country due to the inability to get to the places where medicines were received.

Also today, among the citizens of Kyrgyzstan who are abroad – 24 people have already received and 33 more will receive medicines as soon as their supplies run out.

It is important to note that with this approach it was even possible to return 4 people to the treatment program who interrupted it earlier.