Uzbekistan

Thanks to substantial technical and financial support, Uzbekistan now has concrete evidence to further mobilize sustainable domestic resources for the national HIV response; and sensitise communities, including young people on prevention of HIV, stigma, and discrimination. Intensive advocacy by the Joint Team resulted in increased government expenditure for the HIV response—an estimated 70% of the antiretroviral treatment were procured through state funding in 2022. A low price for antiretroviral medicines (US$ 70 for first line and US$ 372 for second line treatment per person a year) was also successfully negotiated, a major step forward for more equitable and sustainable access to HIV treatment (UNDP). A gender assessment of the national HIV response informed the development of the new National AIDS Strategy (2023-2027) and will inform future Global Fund funding requests and other programming and decision-making processes for a more gender-responsive HIV response.

In commemoration of the 2022 World AIDS Day, various communication initiatives, including development of information materials, were led by civil society organizations and networks of young people living with HIV for public engagement on HIV (UNICEF, UNODC, UNAIDS Secretariat). For instance, young people living with HIV organized peer sessions on HIV prevention reaching more than 250 university students in Karakalpakstan, and Andijan, Fergana and Namangan regions (UNFPA, UNAIDS Secretariat). A rapid assessment on HIV knowledge among young people revealed that 72% of the 12 725 respondents had never been tested for HIV (UNAIDS Secretariat).