TAJIKISTAN'S PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE HIV TESTING AND CONSULTING SERVICES

In May 2018, six public HIV service organizations of Tajikistan "AFEW-Tajikistan", "Vita," "SVON Plus", "Amali nek", "Volunteer" and "Buzurg" signed a Protocol of intention on cooperation in the field of expanding key populations coverage by pre-test counseling and rapid HIV testing (HIV testing and counseling) in Dushanbe, Bokhtar, Kulob, Khujand, Khorough and Penjikent. 

Following the Order №832 of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population from 30 September 2015, “On improvement of population coverage by HIV testing," parties to the Protocol, in close cooperation with AIDS Centers, will contribute achieving the most important goals of the National Program to Counteract the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the Republic of Tajikistan for 2017-2020.

In November 2017, 10 employees of the above-mentioned organizations participated in training "HIV counseling and testing", organized by the AFEW-Tajikistan in cooperation with the Institute of Postgraduate Health Staff Education of the RT.

Since December 2017, with the support of the AFEW-Tajikistan, three new HIV testing and counseling points began providing their services to clients of the public organizations "Vita", "Amali nek" and "SVON Plus".

From April 2018, two other organizations - Volunteer and Buzurg - also started work on equipping and creating two new HIV testing and counseling offices with the AFEW-Tajikistan’s assistance.

On May 1 2018, already 1193 citizens used the of HIV testing and counseling service in facilities of four public organizations. As a result, 6 new HIV cases were detected, 9 HIV cases were re-confirmed. All six patients with newly diagnosed HIV infection confirmed their diagnosis in AIDS centers and started ART.

Reference: Community based HIV testing and counseling on the basis of public organizations have been operating in Tajikistan since December 1, 2016. The first office of this kind was opened at the RPO AFEW-Tajikistan Representation Office in Bohtar, Khatlon region. Establishment of HIV testing and counseling points in Tajikistan's public organizations became possible by the provisions of the above-mentioned Order of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population of RT and the project "Bridging the Gaps: Health and Rights for Key Populations -2.0", funded by the MoFA of Netherlands.

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