AIDS Awareness project

Location: Osh city, Osh Oblast

Project description and objectives

This project aims to educate people about HIV/AIDS.  This is done through a seminar that involves active participation by attendees.  Medical facts about AIDS are presented and unnecessary prejudices regarding the disease challenged.  The seriousness of the illness is a major focus of the seminar. Specific objectives include giving participants a clear definition of AIDS, giving understanding of the unnecessary prejudices surrounding the illness, and teaching on the avoidance of infection. The project was done in cooperation with the Oshki Juzni Vayeni Garnizom.

Major Activities Completed and Results
A number of seminars were held in 2010.  The main group with whom the seminars were conducted were trainee soldiers.

Table 1 Summary of Seminar Locations and Number of Participants

The content of the seminars included facts and statistics about AIDS and how it is contracted. These facts were enhanced with stories of actual individuals who have contracted the disease. The seminars conclude with recommendations on leading a wholesome and healthy lifestyle including AIDS prevention.

The project was progressing well in the spring of the 2010. Then due to events in June, the project had to be suspended. Consideration is being giving to reviving this project in summer 2011.