HIV/AIDS in central Asia: The issue of a serious concern.
Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. E10169)
Hussain TM UNICEF, Dushanbe, Tajikistan
The Central Asian (CA) countries are still at the earlier stages of an HIV/AIDS epidemic. However, there is cause of serious concern. Available evidence indicates that HIV is spreading rapidly. The CDC estimates the number of people living with HIV/AIDS in CA at some 90,000 & projected to rise by 1.65 million by 2005 unless concerted efforts are made to contain the spread. It appears to be driven largely by fast-growing intravenous drug use (IDU) in CA, which is a cross road for the transit of heroine. Causes for serious concern: Injecting drug use fuels spread: Experts estimate that there are may be more than 50,000 drug users in CA, many of whom share needles, placing them at high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. Fast growing among young people: Some 40 percent in CA's population is young and HIV/AIDS is spreading most rapidly among them. Financial constraints, lack of employment and leisure activities, all make them susceptible to experimenting with drugs. Increased commercial sex work: A growing female IDUs are practicing commercial sex, often exchanging sex for drugs & thereby increasing the risk of spreading the infection among the general population. Public awareness of HIV/AIDS is low: In part because of a cultural reluctance to confront HIV/AIDS. Lack of capacity in the public health system: ability to trace, diagnose & treat patients with infections has been deteriorated. Marginalization of vulnerable groups: CSWs and other hard to reach groups do not have rights to health care and may not appropriately treated. NGOs: NGOs are much less developed in certain CA countries. Lack of coordination among NGOs and often competition exist among the groups. The paper arguing for a Urgent Call for Action, includes adoption and implementation of HIV/AIDS strategies, expanding work with vulnerable groups and a strong healthy life-style program development and improve surveillance & capacity building of the public health system.
Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV, HIV Seropositivity, HIV Infections, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, Disease Outbreaks, Asia, Central, HIV-2, HIV-1, Demography, Population, Public Health, Female, Humans, economics
