20 years of the Global Fund: stories from Kyrgyzstan

For its 20th anniversary, the Global Fund is sharing stories about its influence and its victories with the help of objects.

This year, the Global Fund celebrates the 20th anniversary of the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria worldwide. In Kyrgyzstan, UNDP is the main recipient of a Global Fund grant and helps the country to control tuberculosis and HIV together with government partners, NGOs and communities. For its 20th anniversary, the Global Fund is sharing stories about its influence and its victories with the help of objects.

Dilshat Khaitov

"The pot symbolizes the work I do to help TB patients who have just been released and other people from vulnerable groups. Previously, we always faced the same problem: patients wanted to be treated for tuberculosis, but they had nowhere to live. They wanted to get pills, but they had nowhere to spend the night. This year, thanks to an agreement with UNDP within the framework of a grant from the Global Fund, we were able to open a temporary residence center for tuberculosis patients in difficult life situations. Thanks to the funds allocated by the Global Fund, UNDP covered the rent and purchased all furniture and appliances, including a new pot. Here, customers can cook their own meals three times a day. We provide them with everything they need, from toothbrushes to clean sheets. They can just walk in with the clothes they're wearing and nothing else. Thanks to this center, people who have nowhere to live can receive treatment and seek medical, social and psychological counseling. Some come just to eat or wash clothes.

If it were not for the support of the Global Fund and UNDP, we would not have such shelters in Kyrgyzstan."

Baktygul Almerekova

"When I see a pillbox, I immediately remember the beginning of the 2000s, when there was a shortage of anti-tuberculosis drugs in our country, there were waiting lists, and doctors had to choose which patient to take for treatment, and who would wait for the start of treatment for some time. This time was very difficult for everyone, both for patients and doctors. Because it is very difficult to choose and decide a person's fate.

With the advent of the Global Fund, the problem of providing anti-tuberculosis drugs has been solved, and everything is in the past. Now I am proud that I work in a UNDP project funded by the Global Fund, that we provide care to patients and doctors do not have to choose which patient to treat first."

Ekaterina Zabolotneva

"Today, apparently, when giving free syringes to outreach workers, a syringe fell on the floor. An ordinary medical syringe. And I was about to throw it into the box, as for some reason I remembered the first time I saw such syringes. Then I used drugs and we didn't even think about any clean syringes - there was an old, disposable one lying around in the kitchen, one for everyone, and that was enough for us.

There were three of us, all familiar and, it seems, healthy. I didn't have the strength to walk to the pharmacy, and I didn't have the extra kopecks either. Then my life developed according to the usual scenario for many drug addicts – I lost my job and sold everything that was in the house. Health problems began, the police… I was 25 and falling apart.

And then a friend called and offered to bring free syringes in exchange for old ones. It intrigued me so much that I let her come, she brought a bunch of syringes, and loaded me with a sea of information about HIV prevention and the Global Fund. And then she gave me hope, which I no longer expected. She told me about methadone therapy. It changed my life.

The road to rehabilitation was long and bumpy. I slowly learned to live a normal and healthy life. In 2008, I became an outreach worker in the organization "RANCE Plus" to help people like me. Then I studied, worked and studied again, became a consultant, and then a project coordinator.

I learned to cope with problems, take care of my body, mind and soul, as well as help others. I was helped by good specialists and various organizations - psychologists, lawyers, surgeons, consultants and many other wonderful people, but it was always with the support and funding of the Global Fund.

I can literally say that the Global Fund saved me. A low bow from me and from almost four thousand drug addicts, whom we are now helping in Bishkek thanks to the Global Fund/UNDP Project."

Dinara Duishenova

"I first learned about the Global Fund in 2009, when our country was preparing its first application for a Global Fund grant. I also heard about methadone substitution therapy programs for the first time.

Seven years later, I started overseeing a substitution therapy program as part of a joint UNDP-Global Fund project. I witnessed the positive impact of this program on the lives of clients firsthand, and saw how many of them were able to return to normal life.

One of the beneficiaries I remember best is Islam, who joined the program in 2007. His life has changed dramatically, and he began to actively promote this treatment in Kyrgyzstan, talking about its positive impact on the health and fate of people addicted to drugs.

Islam was able to give up drug use, find a job, start a family, and now he is a wonderful father. He uses his experience to help others, working as an equal consultant at the Republican Center of Narcology.

I am proud to be part of the Global Fund's "global" team and make my small personal contribution to the promotion of the Global Fund's mission in Kyrgyzstan. And I am proud to know people like Islam, who are a clear proof that our programs work."

Umai Sultanova

"Working as an outreach worker, I help sex workers get tested for HIV. My task is to provide sex workers with much-needed information about HIV infection in an accessible and understandable language. This will help prevent new cases of HIV infection in the future. While we are conducting the test, I tell them about prevention and why it is important to start antiretroviral treatment on time if the result is positive.

For me, rapid testing and high-quality counseling are the two most important things in work and in HIV programs in general. I always try to protect, reassure and inform our clients.

I am proud to be part of the Global Fund team and help others stay healthy."

Gulnara Samieva

"I have been working as a TB doctor at an antituberculous institution in Osh for more than 20 years. A few years ago, a computer was installed in our office for electronic management of patient information. Thanks to the new computers, which were funded as part of a joint project of UNDP and the Global Fund, we can access an electronic database to register all information about our patients. Now we receive the results of laboratory tests for each patient by email as soon as they are ready.

Our organization could not afford to buy computers for all doctors. Thanks to the Global Fund, we now have access to all the patient information we need with just one click."

Maria Lichanyu

"The tablet has become an integral part of my work as a street lawyer. In this job, which is part of a UNDP/Global Fund project, I help people with HIV, as well as other vulnerable groups, to protect their rights.

An important part of my work is the registration of human rights violations. Before I had a tablet, I needed to go back to the office and have internet access to do this. Now I and other public defenders no longer have this problem.

Now we can work on the ground, which greatly facilitates our work. And most importantly, clients do not need to face obstacles associated with coming to our office for the necessary legal assistance.

On a personal level, this work helped me find my vocation. Working as a street lawyer prompted me to enroll in law school to get a diploma in civil rights protection."