April 11, a round table on “HIV and AIDS: Open Dialogue” was held at the National University of Uzbekistan with the participation of representatives of the United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Country Office in Uzbekistan. This meeting is aimed at encouraging a healthy lifestyle among young people, raising their social awareness, and deepening their knowledge of HIV/AIDS.

During the meeting, the Vice-Rector for International Relations of the National University of Uzbekistan, Raima Shirinova, in her speech, emphasized that health and well-being are the foundation of any progress. He noted that ensuring the health of young people is not only a medical issue, but also an integral part of education and upbringing.

Additionally, the Advisor to the Rector of the University on Women’s Issues, Chairperson of the Advisory Council on Women’s Issues Rano Rustamova spoke and emphasized the importance of establishing healthy lifestyle principles among young people.

“The pursuit of a healthy lifestyle, education, and awareness among young people is a guarantee of the sustainable development of society. Through open and informed communication about HIV, we can not only prevent new cases of HIV, but also reduce stigma and misconceptions and eliminate existing discrimination against HIV.” – Dilnoza Sametdinova, UNAIDS Country Office Representative in Uzbekistan.

The event consisted of 3 main stages:

• Education Session – comprehensive presentations on what HIV and AIDS are, their main stages, transmission routes, modern treatment methods, and preventive measures.
• Interactive quiz – An interesting question-and-answer test was organized among students to test their knowledge of HIV/AIDS. This not only increased knowledge but also helped you remember important information.
• Open communication – Participants had the opportunity to communicate directly with experts, get answers to their questions, and exchange views on stereotypes in society.

This event directly serves one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals until 2030 – Goal 3 “Ensuring a healthy life and promoting the well-being of people of all ages.” One of the priority areas of this goal is the fight against HIV/AIDS, raising public awareness, and widespread introduction of modern preventive healthcare methods.

The event was held in international cooperation, which is a vivid example of the strategic partnership between the university and international organizations. This initiative was implemented by the UNAIDS Office in Uzbekistan, the Strategic Development and International Rating Department of the National University of Uzbekistan, and the Chairperson of the Advisory Council on Women’s Issues.