KULOB, February 2, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- In January 2009, Kulob AIDS Center # 2 tested some 720 local residents for HIV.

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, the center director Tohir Toumonov said that 120 commercial sex workers (CSWs) had anonymously applied to the center over the report period for receiving HIV tests.

Besides, 200 injecting drug users (IDUs) were tested for HIV last month, Toumanov said, noting that IDUs currently receive disposable syringes and contraceptives anonymously.

“In January, we also tested 400 pregnant women,” the center director said.  According to him, the results will become known in the near future.

176 HIV sufferers have been officially registered in Khatlon’s Kulob region to this date; 135 of them are residents of the city and the district of Kulob.  IDUs constitute some 70 percent of HIV sufferers in the region.