DUSHANBE, December 9, 2008, Asia-Plus — Within the framework of the UNDP Global fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria project, for the first time Tajikistan prison medical services will be able to carry out HIV counseling and testing among the prison inmates, press release issued by the UNDP Dushanbe Office said.
UNDP project provided modern technology laboratory so called enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELIZA) for HIV testing. In addition, it is planned to build the capacity of the laboratory specialists in penitentiary system for HIV counseling and testing as well as the use of ELIZA laboratory equipment.
The new laboratory was renovated, equipped and refurbished with the financial support from the Global Fund HIV/AIDS grant. The total cost for establishing this diagnostic center is around 35.000.00 USD. This laboratory will enable the prison health authorities to timely diagnose HIV and provide needed care to prisoners.
The UNDP/ Global Fund project has been collaborating with the Medical unit of the Penitentiary Affair Department of Ministry of Justice (MoJ) over the last three years. Thanks to this collaboration a variety of medical services and prevention activities were established for HIV/AIDS prevention project among prisoners. These services included the establishment of 16 friendly cabinets that provide consultations on HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), distribution of prevention materials, voluntary counseling and testing, and STIs treatment to prisoners. In addition inmates are being trained through especially designed “peer to peer” training seminars as well as informational materials to increase awareness on prevention and treatment.
The Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria (GFATM) grants in Tajikistan are aimed at support the national response to AIDS, TB, and Malaria. Since 2003 the GFATM provided financial support to the National HIV/AIDS program in total amount of about 22 million US dollars. This assistance enabled the National Program to scale up HIV prevention and care interventions and strengthen capacity of health agencies in providing consultation, testing, and treatment on HIV/AIDS infection, implementing prevention programs and providing access to treatment for vulnerable groups, including prisoners, throughout Tajikistan.
