Over 3600 people died of AIDS in Kazakhstan

More than 3.6 thousand HIV-positive people have died since this disease was registered in Kazakhstan, Tengrinews.kz reports, citing National AIDS Prevention Center. “There were 18 459 HIV-positive people registered in Kazakhstan as of May 1, 2012. 3653 people have died since this disease was registered in the country,” the Center’s press-release reads. A campaign in memory of those who died of AIDS will be held in Almaty on May 26. Showmen, prominent sportsmen, journalists, talented young people and representatives of vulnerable groups' will take part in the campaign. Population Services International (PSI) volunteers will organize A safety route trivia game and will distribute booklets among the participants of the event. All people wishing to pass a medical HIV test and to be consulted will be offered this opportunity free of charge and on a no-name basis in a mobile Almaty AIDS Prevention Center laboratory,” the press-release reads. White balloons will be set out to the sky in memory of those who died of AIDS. “The goal of our campaign is to pay tribute to those who died of AIDS and to attract public attention to HIV and AIDS issues, and to remind people that the disease concerns everybody,” Marat Tukeyev, director of the Center said. According to him people can stop the global AIDS outbreak only through package measures: “First of all preventive measures have to be taken, then it is vital to provide access to treatment for those who need it and to actively draw attention of the society and media to HIV and AIDS issues.” The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day is held on the third Sunday of May annually all over the world. This Day was held in 1983 in San Francisco for the first time. People pin a red ribbon to their clothes as a sign of sorrow for the millions of those who died and as a sign of solidarity with those who are HIV-positive. According to Almaty AIDS Prevention Center there are 40 million of HIV-positive people registered in the world at present.