DUSHANBE, August 22, 2009, Asia-Plus — On Thursday August 20, a round table was held in Dushanbe to present the new publication of book “HIV/AIDS from Standpoint of Islam,” according to press release issued by the UNDP Dushanbe Office
The book was developed by Tajikistan’s Islamic Institute of Tajikistan named after Imam A’zam Abuhanifa Hu’mon ibn Sobit and published at the expense of UNDP in the framework of Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria grant.
One of the authors of the book – Umarali Nazarov presented the book and, afterwards, answered to numerous questions of the participants.
As it was noted by the Head of Committee on Youth, Sport and Tourism under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan Mr. Nematov and the Country Director of UNDP Mr. Vrbensky in their speeches, religion plays paramount role in establishing inner world of youth and it is considered to be a powerful educational potential that should be utilized in the efforts of HIV/AIDS prevention in the country.
Head of the department on work with religious organizations at the Administration on Regulating Customs and Traditions at President’s Executive Office Mr. Abduqodirov and Manager of UNDP/PIU Mr. Saleban Omar emphasized in their speeches the significance and timeliness of the book. Considering that 90% of population in the country preaches Islam, the book will have a weighty contribution in raising awareness of population about HIV/AIDS issues.
Also, it was observed that religious leaders take an active part in preventive activities on propaganda of healthy life style, prevention of HIV/AIDS and reduction of stigma and discrimination throughout the country.
In 2007, Tajikistan’s Islamic Institute developed and published the first edition of the book “HIV/AIDS from the Standpoint of Islam” that described ways of HIV transmission, prevention of HIV infection, stigma and discrimination in the society, and attitude of Muslim world to the problem. Taking into account the increase of HIV in the world and the great demand for reliable information about the disease in Tajikistan as well as a positive feedback on the first edition of book, the authors decided to revise the previous edition and include new opinions, trends, and approaches of Islamic world to the problem of HIV.
The second edition of the book has been published in 100 000 copies to be disseminated free of charge among the targeted groups of the project and general population.
