Osh, Kyrgyzstan, has become the latest city to sign the Paris Declaration to end the AIDS epidemic in cities, becoming the second city in the country to commit to reaching the 90–90–90 targets by the end of 2020.
“We sign this declaration because we realize that large cities are the engine of HIV,” said Kadyrov Nurbek Suyunbaevich, Deputy Mayor of Osh. “Thanks to effective HIV testing and treatment, we can control the epidemic and people can live a healthy and fulfilling life. The city of Osh is taking steps to end AIDS and we are already allocating funds for HIV prevention.”
“UNAIDS is pleased that Osh has become a Fast-Track city. By signing the Paris Declaration, Osh will also strengthen health systems in the city,” said Meerim Sarybaeva, the UNAIDS Country Manager in Kyrgyzstan.
Osh is one of the oldest cities in central Asia, with a population of almost 300 000 people. It was one of the first places in central Asia to be affected by HIV, owing to the drug trafficking routes that passed through the city. From 2005 to 2007, there was a severe outbreak of nosocomial HIV infections among children in the city. According to government statistics, there are more than 1100 people living with HIV in Osh.
Osh implemented some of the first HIV prevention programs in Kyrgyzstan. The city has expanded its HIV rapid testing programme for people at higher risk of HIV, launched a treatment adherence programme for people living with HIV based on mobile technology and is scaling-up the coverage of opioid substitution therapy.
“This is an important political step, which requires that we mobilize the necessary resources, both human and financial, to ensure effective HIV prevention programmes for all key populations,” said Aybar Sultangaziev, Director of the Partnership Network Association
Since the launch of the Fast-Track cities initiative on 1 December 2014, more than 350 cities and municipalities around the world have signed the Paris Declaration. The declaration offers cities not only tools to end AIDS but also a platform to address social inclusion and public health.
