KULOB, July 5, Asia-Plus — Another five cases of HIV have been registered in the Kulob zone of Khatlon, bringing a total number of HIV sufferers here to 118, Asia-Plus’ correspondent has learned from Abdullo Shermatov, director of the Kulob AIDS/HIV-Prevention Center.     

According to him, four news cases of HIV have been detected in the city of Kulob and one HIV case has been detected in the Farkhor district.  

Shermatov said that the city Kulob now has 99 HIV sufferers, Kulob district – 6, Vose – 5, Hamadoni – 4, Farkhor – 2 and Danghara and Mouminobod – 1 HIV sufferer each.  

“Since 2003, 14 HIV sufferers have died in the Kulob zone,” said the center director, “Two of them died of overdosing and 12 died of TB.”

 Shermatov noted that in 2003, antiretroviral therapy (ART) was launched in the region for 17 HIV sufferers.  “However, at present only seven HIV sufferers are undergoing ART because five HIV sufferers died and five others refused the therapy,” the AIDS/HIV-Prevention Center head said.  

According to him, the HIV sufferers in Kulob include a 4-year-old girl who contracted the disease from her mother.  

Shermatov also noted that the center had also taken under control three prison inmates who had been released under the amnesty law.  “Fiver other prison inmates who are also to be amnestied soon will also be taken under control,” the center director said.