Kyrgyzstan: still a regional ‘pioneer’ in HIV/AIDS or living on its reputation?

As in other countries of Central Asia, HIV infections in Kyrgyzstan have increased steeply in recent years, driven by factors such as the sharing of drug paraphernalia among injecting drug users, sex work and other risky sex behaviours, prison settings and infections acquired in hospitals. In contrast to its neighbours, Kyrgyzstan has long been considered a regional pioneer in its response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, displaying political will and strong leadership, a timely response, and a multi-sectoral approach to tackle the disease. Yet this progress has become increasingly difficult to sustain in recent years, as it has been undermined by political and social instability, the reorganization of the Country Coordinating Committee to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the lack of unified mechanisms for data collection, monitoring and evaluation, a high rate of turnover of senior and mid-level staff, stigma and discrimination faced by those most at risk, and heavy dependence on external donors.