U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan Elisabeth Millard yesterday released a statement on the occasion of World AIDS Day.

She in particular, noted that 8,504 cases of HIV have been diagnosed and registered in Tajikistan since the beginning of the epidemic, and nearly 2,000 of those infected have died.

“However, UNAIDS estimates that there are a total of over 16,000 people living with HIV, which indicates that more than 60 percent of people living with HIV are not aware of their status.

“In Tajikistan, the epidemic is fueled by injecting drug use and sexual transmission, and the most vulnerable populations are traditionally already marginalized and stigmatized in most societies, making it difficult it to reach them with essential services.

“The U.S. government is committed to ending the AIDS epidemic.  The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the largest pledge by any nation to combat a single disease in history.  PEPFAR invests approximately $15 million per year in Central Asia, of which about 30 percent goes to Tajikistan for essential testing and treatment services and technical assistance.

“We have a narrow window to change the trajectory of the HIV/AIDS epidemic by reaching as many of the people in need as possible in order to achieve the UNAIDS '90-90-90' targets – 90 percent of people with HIV diagnosed, 90 percent of those diagnosed on anti-retroviral treatment, and 90 percent of those on anti-retroviral treatment virally suppressed by 2020.  In Tajikistan, this means intensifying our efforts to increase access to testing in order to diagnose as many people living with HIV as possible, and linking them to quality care and treatment services.

“In Tajikistan, the U.S. government is firmly focused on using data to accelerate toward the 90-90-90 targets, standing with and for key populations, ensuring human rights, and strengthening sustainability and partnerships through transparency and accountability.

“Achieving an AIDS-free generation in Tajikistan is possible, but it will not happen automatically or easily.  We must come together with leadership, commitment, and a focus on impact to make it a reality.”

Meanwhile, the United States Government hosted a series of events commemorating World AIDS Day during the week of November 27 to December 1 to raise awareness of the HIV epidemic especially among vulnerable groups and to combat stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.

On November 27, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) HIV React project hosted an edutainment event in Khujand featuring training and quizzes on HIV prevention topics among people living with HIV, people who inject drugs, and ex-prisoners in collaboration with the Sughd AIDS Center, Sughd Narcology Center and NGOs.

On November 28, 29 and December 1, the USAID HIV Flagship project hosted three community-based events in Dushanbe, Vahdat and Khujand featuring information on HIV, sketches around stigma and discrimination, HIV quizzes, musical performances, and a competition on the best HIV/AIDS poster among city health centers.  These events were held in collaboration with local health centers and with NGOs working with key populations at high risk of HIV, including Marvorid, Bovary-Plus, and Nasli Javoni.  On December 1, a World AIDS Day concert, hosted in collaboration with NGO Spin-Plus, UNDP and UNAIDS, featured local popular musical groups to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS among young people. 

On December 1, U.S. Ambassador Elisabeth Millard participated in an event at the American Corner in Dushanbe featuring a panel discussion led by three NGOs working with key populations in Tajikistan – Spin-Plus, Marvorid and Bovary-Plus – sharing their experiences of working in Tajikistan with people who inject drugs, sex workers, prisoners and people living with HIV.  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention also conducted a question-and-answer session on HIV in Tajikistan at the event.