#StudentsofSPP: Aisuluu Bolotbaeva

You started your studies in higher education in the field of Linguistics. When and how did you encounter public policy?

As an undergraduate, I used to volunteer for Soros Foundation Kyrgyzstan (SFK) and eye-witnessed how they were bringing policy changes improving quality of life of the marginalized populations in Kyrgyz society. This experience of volunteering and participation in SFK's educational programs played a great role in shaping my vision of the ideal job. Returning to the Soros Foundation Kyrgyzstan as an employee after graduation from University was a wish come true.

You participated in several courses and programs at different colleges and universities, including CEU. How did you decide to return?

In 2013, I participated in CEU Summer School Course on Drug Policies and Human Rights. I was impressed by the level of academic freedom provided by CEU to its professors and students to discuss such complex issues as drug policy. Due to the diversity of experiences and backgrounds of students participating in the course, we were able to improve our understanding of the key concepts, drug policies, and human rights situations in the home countries of the course participants, learning not only from the lecturers but also from fellow students. It was a great learning and networking opportunity. No wonder why one would want to return and continue learning from some of the best teachers, like Julia Buxton, Nick Sitter, Judith Aldridge and finding new like-minded specialists.

You mentioned that you started your career at the Soros Foundation in Kyrgyzstan. What did you do there?

I started my career at the Soros Foundation Kyrgyzstan as the Executive Director's assistance and was promoted gradually to the position of Public Health Programs Coordinator.  The key duties of the Public Health Programs Coordinator included leading the Public Health portfolio of the organization, including strategic planning, budget and program management, maintaining healthy partnership relations with national and international stakeholders, fundraising, monitoring and evaluation of relevant programs and projects.

What were the next stages of your career?

After the Soros Foundation, I led the country office of Save the Children in Kyrgyzstan, then managed UNDP's HIV prevention program closely collaborating with the office of the Vice Prime Minister of the country. From January 2011 until October 2014, I worked as Central Asian regional representative and consultant for APM Global Health, an Australian consultancy firm providing expert support to both governmental and non-governmental HIV service organizations in the region. Since 2015, I have been working as a freelance consultant on various projects funded by USAID, UN agencies, Open Society Foundation. In addition to my official jobs, I never really stopped volunteering at grassroots, national and international levels on issues I believed worth advocating for, like access to essential medicine, meaningful involvement of patients in research and development of therapeutic innovation, evidence-based drug policies that respect human rights, improving both quality and coverage by high-quality HIV, viral hepatitis and oncology prevention and treatment services.

Would you please share some details about the expertise you gained in improving the services for women and key populations affected by HIV epidemics?

HIV epidemic in Eastern European and Central Asian countries was historically driven by problematic injecting drug use. Due to intersectional stigma and discrimination, women who use drugs are less visible and more reluctant to seek medical assistance although more vulnerable to HIV for a number of objective reasons. This created a false perception that women did not need harm reduction services. Lack of quantitative and qualitative data about women who use drugs, lack of skilled health professionals aware of specific needs of women affected by HIV epidemic were the gaps that APM Global Health consultants tried to address along with other key issues in HIV sphere.

You were awarded a letter of commendation as well as a golden medal for your contribution to improving public health services in penitentiary system of Kyrgyz Republic. What did it entail?

This was the acknowledgment of the Soros Foundation Kyrgyzstan's staff and partners' efforts in ensuring access to harm reduction and drug-free rehabilitation services for people who use drugs in the penitentiary system by Ministry of Justice of Kyrgyz Republic.

You have been part of a number of research in the last ten years or so. Is there one you consider especially important? If so, which one and why?

Right before enrolling in CEU, I helped with conducting baseline assessment on removing human rights barriers to access to HIV and TB services in Kyrgyzstan. I consider it as one of the most important ones because the results of the research conducted by us will be used as both baseline, and to inform National Action plan on overcoming human rights barriers that stop many key populations and people living with HIV from seeking medical assistance. Whereas, working under the supervision of Dave Burrows, my favorite mentor and a great person was the additional bonus for me.

Are you pursuing a concentration in the MAPP program? If so, which and why that one?

I am doing my concentration in security, because as you may have noticed human security always attracted my interest.

What is it like to be a student in Budapest for you?

I love this beautiful city, as much as the atmosphere of diversity, multiculturalism, academic freedom and tolerance enjoyed in CEU. Thus, studying at CEU can be rewarding, demanding, sometimes at the edge of being stressful, fun, but never boring.

How do you plan to continue your career after graduation?

Now that School of Public Policy helped me to structure my practical knowledge and supported it with theoretical part, I feel better equipped to design and achieve policy changes needed to improve quality of life of patients in Kyrgyzstan, WHO Europe region or any other part of the world and that is the plan.