DUSHANBE, December 5, 2012, Asia-Plus — The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Quality Health Care Project and in collaboration with local partners, organized two separate events in Dushanbe for World AIDS Day.
According to the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, the USAID Quality Health Care Project, in collaboration with the USAID Dialogue Project, the Dushanbe City AIDS Center, and several HIV-focused non-governmental organizations held activities at City Health Center #10 in Dushanbe. The event featured speeches by representatives from the city health administration, contests, and a short play. Health care providers shared information and conducted consultations on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted infections.
Dushanbe City Health Department Deputy Director Mizrob Shoistmatuloyev said, “Global work on HIV/AIDS can begin with small sites, like our city health centers. Only by working in close collaboration with civil society, can we improve the quality of medical services provided to vulnerable groups.”
The Regional Forum of Women Living with HIV, organized by the Tajikistan Network of Women Living with HIV, is taking place on December 5-6 at the Dushanbe City Conference Hall. The purpose of the forum is in informing high-level authorities, civil society, and international partners about gender issues related to HIV infection in Central Asia to strengthen the regional response to the epidemic.
Since 1988, World AIDS Day has been observed on December 1st to raise awareness of the fight against HIV/AIDS and to support people living with HIV/AIDS. According to the Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic of the UN Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Tajikistan is one of a number of countries where HIV infections have increased by more than 25% over the past ten years. The number of reported new HIV cases in 2011 was more than double the HIV prevalence rate of 2006. The USAID Quality Health Care Project is one of the many assistance projects made possible by the American people through USAID. Since 1992, the American people have provided over $1 billion in programs and humanitarian aid that support Tajikistan’s democratic institutions, health care, education and economic growth.
