KULOB, September 12, 2011, Asia-Plus — Twenty injecting drug users (IDUs) that were released from prisons under the amnesty have applied for assistance to the help office at the branch of Tajikistan’s Red Crescent Society (RCS) in Kulob, Zayniddin Olimov, the head of RCS’s branch in Kulob, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.
“Despite existing difficulties, we have provided them with all necessary things, inviting them to participate in all events carried out by the office,” note Olimov noted. “Financing of the help office for injecting drug users was stopped three months ago and we are currently experiencing acute problems. However, we have not yet closed the office and are continuing to provide assistance to local 175 IDUs.”
In the meantime, Dr. Massimo Barra, Chairman of the Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, visited Kulob last weekends to get acquainted with activities of local branch of RCS. During his stay in Kulob, D. Barra also met with large number of injecting drug users.
“On Saturday September 10, Dr. Barra met with Kulob Mayor Homid Abdulloyev,” Olimov said, noting that they now set their hopes on Dr. Barra.
Internationally renowned for his innovative work on drug use, Dr Barra was one of the first medical doctors in Italy to work with drug users and since 1974 he has been involved with the Social Diseases Center in Rome. In 1976 he founded the therapeutic community Villa Maraini Foundation, which he has directed for more than 30 years. Massimo Barra held the position of National Chairman of Italian Red Cross Relief Volunteers in Italy for 21 years and participated in all of the country”s major relief operations. Head of Madonna del Tufo hospital since 1986 and President of the European Red Cross Red Crescent Network on Aids from 1998 to 2003, Dr Barra was elected Board Member of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria in 2003. His written work includes numerous publications and articles on the Red Cross, substance abuse, first aid and HIV and AIDS. During his long career in the Red Cross-Red Crescent Movement, Massimo Barra has been the recipient of many honors and awards.
Dr. Barra has represented the Italian Red Cross and the International Red Cross-Red Crescent Movement in hundreds of circumstances and missions in Italy and abroad, traveling to more than 105 Countries on behalf of the Movement. Dr Massimo Barra is the Chairman of the Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent and was President of the Italian Red Cross from December 2005 to November 2008.
