Improving TB and HIV Awareness in Uzbekistan

Tashkent City, Uzbekistan, April 17, 2014

Project HOPE’s Dialogue on HIV and TB projects are five-year, USAID-funded partnerships between Project HOPE and Population Services International that seek to increase access to tuberculosis (TB) and HIV prevention and treatment among the most at-risk populations (MARPs) of four Central Asian countries: Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.  The outreach focuses on increasing TB and HIV knowledge among these groups with an emphasis on prevention.  Project HOPE is also working to improve treatment and care for these individuals by providing stigma reduction training for providers and improved referral systems for care.

Project HOPE’s Dialogue on HIV and TB projects in collaboration with the City AIDS Center and the City TB Dispensary conducted a two-day event coinciding with World TB Day in Tashkent City, Uzbekistan.  The event was aimed at expanding the access of MARPs to HIV and TB prevention and diagnostics services.

A total of 113 MARPs such as individuals engaging in risky activities, people living with HIV and people from their circles participated in the event. It was a unique opportunity for these individuals to receive services free of charge, such as X-ray examinations, anonymous HIV testing and doctors’ consultations – all in one place.  Furthermore, the event provided the participants with key information on TB, HIV and HIV/TB co-infection, which will raise awareness of TB and HIV as well as the projects’ services among the MARPs and their peers, friends and family members.