KULOB, January 26, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Two centers for prevention of spread of TB and AIDS are expected to be established in the city of Kulob in the near future, Kulob mayor Homid Abdulloyev said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, they have decided to open the TB center because the number of TB cases has been increasing in the city.  Thus, 533 new cases of tuberculosis were detected in Kulob in 2008.

As far as the HIV/AIDS situation is concerned, of 176 cases of HIV officially registered in Khatlon’s Kulob region, 135 cases were detected in the city and the district of Kulob, the mayor said.

“Local TB hospital that was built in the 1950s already now do not meet requirements and it will be removed from the city to other place,” said the mayor, “While, the existing AIDS center is engaged in dealing with the HIV/AIDS spread prevention problems not only in the city but also in all ten districts of the region.”  Therefore, the city should have its own TB and AIDS centers, Abdulloyev said.