The handover ceremony took place at the RCPA and aims to provide vulnerable groups — specifically people with opioid dependence — in Bishkek and the Chuy region with continuous access to life-saving medical services and essential medicines. 

In partnership with the Global Fund (GF), UNDP has for many years supported harm reduction programs in the Kyrgyz Republic as the most effective and scientifically proven method of preventing HIV infection among people who inject drugs. The handover of this vehicle is part of systemic efforts to gradually transition program management to state medical institutions. By strengthening the RCPA’s vehicle fleet, UNDP and the Global Fund are supporting the state in developing its own sustainable healthcare infrastructure. 

“For our center, this vehicle represents long-awaited and critically important assistance. The specifics of our programs demand strict adherence to medicine delivery schedules to our sites. This vehicle will allow us to optimize routes across Bishkek and the Chuy region, guaranteeing our patients that medications will be delivered on time and in full,” noted Zh. A. Azhibekov, Acting Director of the Republican Center for Psychiatry and Addiction. 

Clients receiving opioid agonist therapy (OAT) require daily medication. The slightest disruption in supply lines to therapy sites can lead to treatment interruption, relapses, and a return to illicit drug use, which drastically increases the risk of HIV infection. Since program sites are located throughout the city of Bishkek and in remote areas of the Chuy region, the new maneuverable pickup truck will enable the express delivery of medicines and supplies in any weather and road conditions. 

The vehicle will be utilized to transport controlled substances for OAT, which require strict security measures during transportation, as well as essential supplies such as cups, condoms, rapid HIV tests, and others. 

“Our primary goal is to ensure that quality medical and preventive services are accessible to every individual, regardless of their life circumstances. Timely delivery of medicines is the foundation of uninterrupted treatment. The new vehicle will help the Republican Center for Psychiatry and Addiction quickly resolve logistical challenges, saving lives and preventing the spread of HIV infection in Bishkek and the Chuy region,” emphasized Andrey Abramyuk, UNDP Project Manager. 

The vehicle was handed over under the project "Effective Control of HIV and Tuberculosis in the Kyrgyz Republic," implemented by UNDP with financial support from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.