Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Nov. 24 / Trend D. Azizov /
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) presented the five-year Health Outreach Program (HOP) to prevent and treat HIV and tuberculosis in Uzbekistan.
The HOP will provide technical assistance, training, and direct outreach services to increase access to quality HIV and tuberculosis (TB) prevention and treatment interventions among the most at-risk populations. The program was approved by an interdepartmental expert council under the Uzbek Cabinet of Ministers, Outreach Program Coordinator Artur Niyazov said.
Outreach means methods when a doctor does not expect a patient to visit his offices. Th doctor then goes to prevent and treat risk groups.
In Uzbekistan, the HOP is implemented via Project HOPE: People to People Health Foundation, Inc., in collaboration with the Health Ministry, National AIDS Center, National DOTS Center, and the Institute of Health.
The objective of the USAID's HOP is to provide a complex package of services for HIV and TB prevention, in partnership with the Health Ministry. Through informational activities, social support services and timely referral for HIV and TB diagnostic tests, the HOP will assist Uzbekistan in achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.
"Our goal is to reduce the spread of HIV in Uzbekistan by providing general access to prevention, diagnosis and treatment, and also fully supporting people living with HIV/AIDS," Deputy Health Minister Saidmurod Saydaliev said.
Nurmat Atabekov, the director of the National Center for AIDS, said there were 4,016 registered cases of HIV infection in 2009. The figure corresponds to the number for 2008.
As of this year, there were 15,892 people living with HIV in Uzbekistan. The largest number was in Tashkent - 5,586 people, in metropolitan areas - 2,512, and in prison - 2,037. Roughly 70 percent of all HIV-infected individuals are men. Most are in the 20-49 age group.
A single AIDS system has been operating in Uzbekistan since 2008. The system operates national and regional centers to combat AIDS. They carry out comprehensive measures to combat HIV infection. A national committee chaired by the prime minister coordinates the work.
Uzbekistan also works to reduce morbidity and mortality from tuberculosis, said Mirzagaleb Tillyashayhov, the director of the National Specialized Scientific and Practical Medical Center or Phthisiology and Pulmonology.
"Tuberculosis mortality was reduced by almost 40 percent in recent years," he said. "Last year, the morbidity rate was 63.7 per 100,000, and the death rate was 6.1. The effectiveness of the treatment reached 81.3 percent."
He added that Uzbekistan has set a target by 2015 to reduce morbidity up to 50 people per 100,000 people, and mortality - up to four people per 100,000 people, and to increase detection up to 70 percent and recovery up to 85 percent.
The HOP is one of the many assistance projects supported by USAID. Since 1992, USAID has provided more than $330 million in assistance to Uzbekistan.