Kyrgyz celebrities urge their fans to be kinder to HIV infected people

On July 18, 2018, a new media campaign #БоорукерБол #БудьДобрее (“be kinder”) aimed at overcoming stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV was presented in Bishkek. The campaign will reach about 1,000,000 social network users in Kyrgyzstan.

The media campaign was launched by the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education with the support from the Joint United Nations Program on HIV / AIDS (UNAIDS).

Famous people of Kyrgyzstan among them artists, musicians and TV presenters Mr Kairat Primberdiyev, Ms Zhijdesh Idirisova and Mr. Erkin Ryskulbekov took part in the campaign.

“I am happy that I was able to take part in this initiative. Many people recognize me on the street and I want to use it for good: I want to inform my fans and the citizens of the country at large that HIV-infected people have the same rights and opportunities as people living without HIV”, says Mr. Kairat Primberdiev - a singer and musician, the finalist of the 5th season of the TV show called “The Voice”.

The presentation of the campaign coincided with the appointment of Mr Erkin Ryskulbekov, a popular TV presenter, showman and producer to the position of the official UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador in Kyrgyzstan.

“For me it is not only a great honour but also an enormous responsibility. I have been working with the UNAIDS office in Kyrgyzstan for several years and I want to do even more in my new capacity in order to completely eradicate manifestations of stigma and discrimination, especially against children and teenagers having HIV.” "

As of June 1, 2018 there were 8,323 people living with HIV registered in the Kyrgyz Republic, of whom 636 are children and teenagers. The level of stigma associated with HIV-positive persons remains high. The new media campaign is aimed not only at making people aware of HIV, but also intends to demonstrate that many fears and prejudices related to people living with HIV are greatly exaggerated.

The campaign is directed by Mr Azim Azimov, the head of “Media Kitchen”.

“In 2017 a series of videos was created with the financial support of UNAIDS for the social campaign #ТыНеОдинок (“you are not alone”) and the UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador Ms Vera Brezhneva and young Kyrgyz stars took part in it.”

“After the campaign, we were faced with a very paradoxical phenomenon: on the one hand, the stars were eagerly participating in such initiatives, but on the other, in the comments to the videos we noticed misunderstanding and resentment of the Internet users. But, as experience and time showed, the participation of popular performers, actors, presenters and bloggers can positively influence the perception of discrimination against HIV-positive children and the reduction of stigma towards them. To a great extent this project was made possible thanks to Mr Erkin Ryskulbekov, who made an invaluable contribution and became the main driving force behind this action.

The video is made in the genre of a documentary with elements of the reality show. The celebrities talk to young people on hot topics and get frank statements. Each of the guys who took part in the media campaign made a significant contribution and I think that the campaign was successful. Now it's up to the audience from whom we will receive feedback.”

The UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education and the UNAIDS office in Kyrgyzstan welcome the well - known TV presenters and popular performers among the fighters with the HIV epidemic.

“It is very important that well - known people join such educational and awareness projects. They help us to really communicate to the widest audience very simple but at the same time fundamental ideas: responsible attitude towards one’s health, caring for one’s relatives, mutual respect, equality and kindness. It is encouraging to see that each year more and more popular and talented people are ready to join our initiatives and that the design of ​​every new media campaign allows talking to the audience in an interesting and understandable language. This gives us hope that soon we shall forget the phenomenon of stigma and discrimination,” says Mr Tigran Yepoyan, UNESCO Regional HIV and Health Education Adviser.

Additional information on HIV prevention in Kyrgyzstan can be obtained from Ms Meerim Sarybaeva, the UNAIDS Country Director (e-mail: sarybaevam@unaids.org).

Please see the photos HERE.