Monitoring the Implementation of HIV Reduction Instruments in Uzbekistan

From May till early July 2018 the Monitoring and Evaluation Group of the Inter-Agency Expert Council (Country Coordination Mechanism) under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan jointly with the UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia conducted its annual visits and observation of HIV related service through nine regions of Uzbekistan.

M&E - Monitoring and Evaluation visits within a wide circle of questions addressed ones related to an increase in the levels of access and utilization for three key interventions that have the potential to significantly reduce HIV infection among People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) and their sexual and injecting partners, and hence morbidity and mortality in the country. These interventions are drawn from consensus interventions that comprise a 'comprehensive package' for PWID. The three interventions in Uzbekistan are: Needle and Syringe Programs (NSP), HIV Counseling and Testing (HCT) and Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). These key interventions are reducing risky behaviors in the context of transmitting or acquiring HIV infection. Overall, the key interventions have strong effects on the risk of HIV infection among PWID via different pathways.  

In the process of monitoring through the country - in Karakalpakstan (14-16 May), Khoresm region (17-18 May), Kashkadarya region (28-29 May), Samarkand region (30 May-1 June), Navoi region (18-20 June), Bukhara region (21-23 June), Ferghana region (1-3 July), Namangan (4-5 July) and Andijan (6-7 July 2018), the M&E Group visited HIV service providers such as city and rural Trust Points in AIDS Centers and family policlinics, TB hospitals, Multi-disciplinary Teams to support PWHIV and NGOs. Fruitful meetings and discussions were held with outreach workers and target groups/or services' clients (PWID and people with HIV (PWHIV).

In each region a roundtable for stakeholders was organized providing the opportunity to discuss the core issues including HIV service quality, human rights with focus on stigma and discrimination towards PWHIV and PWID; local problems and priorities of implementation of the HIV State Programme for 2018.

The participants stressed the following sensitive points: a high level of stigma associated with drug use and HIV treatment even among physicians and health care providers (based on concerns about re-infection, lack of adherence to medication and transient lifestyles are among many reasons why physicians are hesitant in treating this vital population); lack of evidence-based education and advocacy programs for general population including youth and adolescents to formulate adequate public attitude and environment  for PWHIV. 

Monitoring of HIV prevention, treatment and care services in Uzbekistan is implemented by the UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia (ROCA) and CCM M&E Group within the framework of UBRAF (UNAIDS Unified Budget, Results and Accountability Framework). 

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For more information please contact:

Dr. Nazokat Kasymova, National Project Officer 

UNODC/ROCA

30a, Abdulla Kahhar Street
Tashkent 700100, Uzbekistan
Tel.: +998 71 120 80 50
Fax: +998 71 120 62 90