Azerbaijan, Baku, 23 August / Trend , corr S. Kazimli/ A total of 29 prisoners have died in the rehabilitation center of the penitentiary for prisoners suffering from tuberculosis in Baku in 2008, colonel Nizami Guliyev, head of the rehabilitation center said to Trend .
Guluyev said that the number of deaths has reduced as compared to previous years. In 2002, a total of 13 people died of tuberculosis in the center, 157 in 2003, 94 in 2004, 66 in 2005, 63 in 2006 and 47 in 2007.
There are 962 prisoners in the center. A total 700 of them is being treated and others are doing community work. The head of the center said that at present 360 prisoners are being treated according to DOTS program, 80 prisoners - according to DOTS plus program and 311 are being treated in health centers.
Guluyev said that the nutrition of prisoners have improved since 2005. The prisoners who are treated through DOTS plus program are provided with additional nutrition as this kind of treatment takes long and the prisoners take al lot of medicine. Each prisoner is provided with 500 grams of dairy produce every day.
The rehabilitation center has been operating since 1998.
"The center is equipped with up-to-date facilities. There is state-of-the-art laboratory and X-ray facilities in the center. These facilities enable us to make right diagnosis and to treat T.B. sufferers in time," Guluyev said.
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