KULOB, September 8, 2011, Asia-Plus — An anti-drug action entitled “Free Your Friend from the Heroin Clutch” has been launched in the city of Kulob.
Organized by local NGO Anis, the action is being conducted in the framework of the USAID Dialogue on HIV and TB Project.
The Anis chairperson, Ms. Idimo Kholmurodova, says the project is being implemented in all the five Central Asian countries by a consortium of partners, led by the Population Services International (PSI).
“Over the past two years, a rehabilitation center with 10 beds has been set up in Kulob and all necessary conditions have been created for social workers dealing with high-risk groups, particularly injecting drug users (IDUs), commercial sex workers (CSWs), migrants, prisoners and people living with HIV,” Kholmurodova noted.
According to her, some 100 people have been freed from drug dependence and new several dozen cases of HIV have been detected in the area over the report period. Besides, access of hundreds of TB sufferers to medical aid has been eased.
“Many of former IDUs who underwent medical treatment at our rehabilitation center are participating in the action,” Kholmurodova added.
The USAID Dialogue on HIV and TB Project provides technical assistance, training and direct outreach services to increase access of people who are most at risk of contracting HIV and tuberculosis (TB) to quality HIV prevention and TB treatment services.
The overarching aim of the Dialogue on HIV and TB Project is to reduce HIV and TB among key populations (injecting drug users, sex workers, migrants, men who have sex with men, prisoners and people living with HIV). Specifically, activities evolve around three pillars: evidence-based planning, targeted outreach services and regional and national working groups.
