DUSHANBE, January 26, 2010, Asia-Plus — On Tuesday January 26, U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan Ambassador Ken Gross and Deputy Minister of Health Azamjon Mirzoyev launched the Health Outreach Program (HOP), which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Tajikistan, according to the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe.
The opening of this Program included a round-table discussion in Dushanbe with representatives of involved governmental, international and local nongovernmental organizations as well as donor agencies.
The Health Outreach Program will provide technical assistance, training, and direct outreach services to increase access to quality HIV and tuberculosis prevention and treatment interventions among the most at-risk populations (MARPs). The Program will work in Dushanbe, Vahdat, Kulob, Qurghon Teppa and Sughd areas. Through analysis of existing interventions, and drawing upon the many years of experience of the partners working with MARPs in each of the Central Asian Republics, HOP combines the most effective approaches to strengthen the region’s strategic response to HIV and TB.
HIV is a growing and serious concern in the region. In Tajikistan, according to Ministry of Health data, at the end of 2009 there were 1853 officially registered cases of HIV infection, including 431 new cases registered in 2009.
HOP, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Internal Affairs and local government institutions, will support local NGOs to increase coverage of MARPs by providing a full complex of prevention, diagnostic and treatment friendly services for HIV and TB.
The HOP Consortium led by Population Services International (PSI) and includes Project HOPE and the AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW), will implement the Program.
The Health Outreach Program is one of the many assistance projects the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) support in Tajikistan. Since 1992, the American people through the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe have provided about $900 million in programs that support Tajikistan’s democratic institutions, health care, education, and economic growth.
