On the eve of the International Nurses Day healthcare workers of the southern capital held
a round table to discuss the issues of overcoming stigma and discrimination against people
living with HIV in healthcare institutions, increasing access to health care and upgrading
professionalism of healthcare providers.
The roundtable was held on April 30, at 14.00 in the Conference room of the Central Clinical
Hospital (CCH ). The event was organized by the faculty of “HIV – infection and Infection
Control” Division of the Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University , CCH staff, and
the Almaty City AIDS Center .
«International Nurses Day is just a few days apart of another event – International AIDS
Candlelight Memorial Day. These two important days are good reason for us to have an
open conversation about fundamental role of health professionals in tackling stigma and
discrimination towards people living with HIV who are turning to us for help , and whose health
often depends precisely on the professionalism and warmth of people in white coats «- said prof.
Nurses, doctors, scientists, public figures, people living with HIV were invited to participate in
the round table entitled «We are against discrimination». Participants were actively involved in
discussing such issues as how to enhance the healthcare providers’ professionalism, improve
patients’ and healthcare workers’ safety, stigma and discrimination as a major obstacle to the
provision of quality health care; discrimination in health care facilities, and others. Among the
speakers of the roundtable there were M. Abdullaev, Chief Doctor of CCH; Zh. Nugmanova,
Chair of «HIV infection and infection control » Division of KazNMU, Chief Freelance HIV
Specialist of the City Health Administration; A. Zhandybaeva — Acting Chair, Department of
Prevention, AIDS Center ; L. Kurbatova — Chair of the PLWHA Board ; S. Biryukov – Director,
Public fund » ANTIHEPATITIS » and others.
