HIV Policies in Uzbekistan: Focus on Quality of Service and Reducing Stigma and Discrimination

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sets the Goal 3: "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages" and aims to end the epidemics of AIDS and other communicable diseases by 2030.

Uzbekistan Government, in close cooperation with international community, strengthens its programmes and policies in preventing communicable diseases.

Inter-agency Expert Council (CCM or IEC) under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan, established in 2008, works to ensure close cooperation and coordination with international organizations on HIV, TB and malaria. The IEC launched a M&E (Monitoring and Evaluation) Group in 2013 which is responsible for monitoring of National Programmes on HIV, TB and malaria.

During the monitoring in Tashkent city (from 10-11 April) and Tashkent region (from 17-18 April), the Group visited HIV service providers such as AIDS Centers, as well as harm reduction programs in NGOs: "Istiqbolli Avlod" and Anticancer Society "Ishonch va Khayot". The M&E Group examined documentation, ARVT (anti-retro virus therapy) and NSP (needles and syringes exchange programs) supply, observed procedures, and conducted meetings with staff and target groups (people who inject drugs (PWID) and people with HIV (PWHIV).

HIV related issues with focus on quality of service and reducing stigma and discrimination were discussed with outreach workers and PWID/PWHIV to examine real cases and improve the programs further. 

HIV response can only be fast tracked if the rights of people who use drugs to access HIV harm reduction services, as recommended by WHO, UNODC and UNAIDS, are promoted, and the barriers to access those services are removed.

On 18 April, preliminary results of the monitoring were presented at the roundtable with representatives of all stakeholders in Tashkent.  The roundtable also provided an opportunity to discuss the progress of national and local advocacy efforts for last year, and the participants - communities' leaders, NGO, and state actors agreed on future actions to sustain HIV programs including harm reduction services.

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