The Minister of Health of Tajikistan, Nusratullo Salimzoda, called for people to know their HIV status during the first ever public event on HIV prevention in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on 15 November.
The event, in support of the “Hands up for #HIVprevention” campaign, united more than 500 representatives of the Government of Tajikistan, health professionals, celebrities and young people. Organized at the newly opened city medical centre, the campaign offers local citizens access to free and voluntary rapid HIV tests, access to condoms, information on how to protect against HIV infection and referrals to treatment and support for people living with HIV.
During the event, a new mobile diagnostic complex was donated to the Government of Tajikistan by the Russian Government under the framework of the Regional Cooperation Programme—a joint project of UNAIDS, AIDS Infoshare, and Rospotrebnadzor. The medical centre will operate in remote mountainous and rural areas in Tajikistan and will provide population at higher risk of HIV infection, including migrants and their families, with access to integrated HIV testing and counselling and other forms of medical diagnostics and treatment.
UNAIDS estimates that there were 1000 new HIV infections and that 16 000 people were living with HIV in Tajikistan in 2015.
“We call on everyone to get tested for HIV and know their HIV status.”
Nusratullo Salimzoda Minister of Health of Tajikistan
“Tajikistan has supported new ambitious targets to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Yet, we can only reach those targets if people at higher risk of HIV infection, including migrants, know their HIV status and have access to critical HIV services.”
Vinay P. Saldanha UNAIDS Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia
“The Russian Federation works actively with other countries in eastern Europe and central Asia in the field of HIV prevention, control and surveillance within the framework of the Regional Cooperation Programme. Thanks to this programme, the Ministry of Health of Tajikistan has strengthened its capacity to address the complex medical and social problems of HIV, hepatitis and other infectious diseases.”
Larisa Dementieva Deputy Head of epidemiological department, Rospotrebnadzor, Russian Federation
“It is time to start speaking openly in Tajikistan about the importance of HIV prevention. Every young man and woman who is sexually active should know their HIV status. We must do everything to prevent exclusion of and discrimination against people living with HIV.”
Farhod Sharifi World Taekwondo Champion, UNAIDS Youth Red Ribbon Envoy, Tajikistan
