DUSHANBE , March 3, Asia-Plus - Today, Tajik Health Ministry and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) sent medical equipment worth US$22,000 to the northern province of Sughd, Azizullo Qosimov, Head Physician of the Republican Center for Treating Cutaneous and Venereal Diseases. Said.  

According to him, this bulk of medical equipment and medicines is intended for treating venereal patients in the region and will be distributed to nine “confidence offices” opened for such patients in Sughd.

“As a whole, compared to the previous years the situation with Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in many regions of the country has improved,” said Qosimov, “For example, 700 syphilis patients were officially registered in Tajikistan in 2004, while last year this figure reduced to 620 people.  Number of cases of gonorrhea in Tajikistan also reduced from 688 cases in 2004 to 640 cases in 2005.”  . 

At the same time, in districts subordinate to the center, number of cases STIs has increased, according to him.  “In 2004, 93 syphilis and 55 gonorrhea patients were officially reported in these districts, while last year these numbers increased by 39 and 30 cases respectively,” the Asia-Plus interlocutor said.  

In the meantime, Azizullo Qosimov says the real number of venereal patients in the republic may by higher that official figures because many people contracting STIs prefer self-treatment to taking medical advice.