AZERBAIJAN NATIONAL CENTRE IN RESPOND TO AIDS

About Center.

Azerbaijan Against AIDS (Analytical material as of April 1, 2000).

Memory Day of People Died of AIDS.

Mass HIV Testing Day, July 1, 2000.

Azerbaijan Nongovernmental Association "Imdad-SOS"

About Center.

Azerbaijan National Center in Respond to AIDS functional since 1990. The structure of the Center includes following departments:

- 24 hours service of anonymous testing and consultation on AIDS (the service of trust);         - organization-methodical department;         - epidemiological monitoring department;         - health education department;         - clinical care and report of HIV/AIDS patients;         - reference laboratory;         - confidential issues department;         - financial issues department.

The following regional labs of diagnostics of HIV-infection are in the organizing-methodical control of Azerbaijan Center in Respond to AIDS:

1. Baku +(994 12) 949924 2. Gandja +(994 895 22) 61243 3. Lenkoran +(994 271) 42631 4. Salyan +(994 263) 54926 5. Sheki +(994 277) 42580 6. Ali-Bayramli +(994 297) 40367 7. Sumgayit +(994 264) 59405 8. Nakhchyvan +(994 236) 50358 9. Mingachevir +(994 247) 42623 10. Guba +(994 269) 53747 11. Yevlakh +(994 266) 64881 12. Shamakhy +(994 276) 91041

Reference lab of the Center and its regional labs carry out IFA tests also on hepatitis B and C, and on syphilis.

Azerbaijan Against AIDS (Analytical material as of April 1, 2000).

The control of HIV-infection in Azerbaijan Republic is carried out since 1987.

Setting up of Azerbaijan National Center in Respond to AIDS commenced in 1990-the only establishment being organizing-methodical, coordinating, supervising and practical establishment of the Ministry of Health on prevention of HIV spread in the Republic. Structure of the Center includes 12 regional offices.

The first case of HIV-infection in Azerbaijan was detected in 1987 being citizen of Uganda, and in 1992 of citizen of Azerbaijan.

As a result of purposeful actions taken by the Center, since 1997 there was a sharp growth in detection of HIV-infections. In the period during 1987-1996, that is for 9 years, only 7 HIV carriers were detected in the Republic, in 1997 the number of new HIV cases has reached 13, in 1998 - 68 cases, in 1999 - 81 cases. We have to pay attention to that circumstance, that on the background of growth in detection of HIV-infections the coverage by testing of the population on HIV-infection has sharply decreased. In overall 326000 persons were tested for HIV in 1992 and 103051 in 1999. Percentage of coverage by testing of the population on HIV has made only 1,3 % in 1999.

For all years total number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Azerbaijan has reached 193. 173 of them are citizens of the Republic, and 20 are foreigners.

24 cases among HIV-infected citizens of the Republic were diagnosed as having AIDS. 11 of them already died of AIDS. 42 % of HIV-infected are IDU, 28 % were infected via heterosexual contacts, 3 % by mother-to-child transmission, 27 % - unknown transmission. The two were infected via homosexual contacts. 89 % all HIV-infected are in the age of 15-45 years. 5 HIV-carriers are children in the age of 1-5 years, infected from HIV-infected mothers. 5 family HIV cases are registered, in which a source of infection were HIV-infected IDU husbands. Currently HIV-infection covers Baku and 21 areas of the Republic.

The sharp growth of drug use, prostitute and also increase of population migration has created conditions for spreading HIV-infection in the Republic.

Under the initiative of the Center and Association " Imdad-SOS"- help for people with HIV/AIDS the issue on social rehabilitation of HIV-infected and AIDS-patients was submitted to government's consideration and was solved , as each HIV carriers have already perplexed in their life. If there is necessity and the consent of the HIV carrier, the group of physical inability is established for him. Screening researches are carried out among prostitutes, homosexuals, drug users, STD patients, and also in territories with a high level detection in order to increase awareness and decrease the risk of infection, to provide in time detection and prevention of HIV spread.

Despite of that, percent of coverage by testing on HIV among groups with high risk of infection makes only 21,3 %.

In order to ensure safety of donor blood and its components, according to the orders of the Ministry of Public Health of Azerbaijan Republic, the system of certification of donor blood has been created. In 1999 during testing of samples of donor blood there were identified positive results on: HIV - 11; HBs Ag - 171; HCV - 103; Luis - 106.

The first case of HIV-infection by transfusing of unscreened donor blood in the Republic was identified in Lenkoran region , in 1999. The responsible health care employees were brought to the criminal liability under article 114-2 Criminal codes of the Republic.

Article 114-1 Criminal codes of the Azerbaijan Republic provides imprisonment of HIV-infected for deliberate HIV infection transmission up to 8 years. Number of the legislative acts directed towards prevention of distribution of AIDS in the Republic have been adopted.

In 1996 the President of the Azerbaijan Republic signed the Decree about application of the "Law on prevention HIV/AIDS distribution".

In October, 1997 the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan Republic approved National Program on AIDS prevention, although the government so far lacks means of its financing.

The service of 24 hours anonymous consultation and testing on AIDS and telephone of trust 94-99-24 functional at the Center since May, 1997 . The number of calls in this service steadily grows. During 1999 there were 3560 anonymous calls and 307 personal visits to the service of anonymous testing and consultations of the Center .This indicator is 2,2 times higher, than in 1997.

The Center guarantees quality, confidentiality of consultations and tests as well as keeps received results strongly confidential.

The Center is paid special attention to education of the population on issues concerning AIDS. With this purpose more than 425 articles and interviews were published in a periodic press in 1999.

In order to increase AIDS awareness among health care workers lectures and conversations were organized and carried out in 155 treatment-preventive establishments of the Republic by the Center in 1999. More than 7 thousand of health care workers were acquainted with modern sights on epidemiological, etiological, pathogens, diagnostics, clinics, and other aspects of HIV/AIDS.

The movement " Youth Against AIDS " actively engaged in fight against AIDS is formed at the Center . The National Center pays special attention to observance rights of HIV-infected and members of their families. Under active support of the Center the association "Imdad-SOS" help for people with HIV/AIDS was created in 1998 . The association is only public organization in the Republic having social base, created for rendering moral, material, social, psychological, and legal support to the people living with HIV/AIDS. Structure of association "Imdad-SOS" includes HIV carriers and members of their families as well as physicians, lawyers, psychologists, sociologists and others. The National Center in Respond to AIDS closely cooperates with association "Imdad-SOS". The positive effect of this cooperation is widely distributed and has social, moral and psychological importance. The activity of association is based on participation of HIV-infected in prevention of AIDS spread, which has the special importance for both them and community.

In April 1999 the National Center in Respond to AIDS held a charitable concert together with association "Imdad-SOS", where more than two thousand youth participated. The assembled funds here were handed to requiring HIV carriers and their relatives.

In order to study influence of social, psychological, moral, legal, material and other factors which have resulted in infecting people with HIV, anonymous survey was carried out among HIV-infected citizens of the Republic.

The results of survey have shown, that about 90 % of the respondents had no idea on AIDS before being infected with HIV. Due to intervention of association, the accusation in intentional infecting was taken off from HIV-infected person.

Under the petition of the Center and the Association "Imdad-SOS" three condemned HIV-carriers are preschedully exempted from places of imprisonment.

Under the initiative of the National Center since 1997 from 1 to 10 of December our Republic holds the 10 days fight against AIDS. During the 10 days of fight against AIDS the Center carries out the large sanitary - educational and advocacy work with the purpose to attract attention of public and government to problems of AIDS. Within this period, young people actively engaged in all actions taken by the Center.

The development and release of the posters, tests, leaflets and other evident materials, and also their distribution among the unorganized population, in various organizations and establishments are constantly be carried out.

Under the initiative of the Center in all classes of secondary and high schools of the Republic beginning from 6 class an hour of fight with AIDS is carried out on December 10 . The classes are held under the program " Save yourself from AIDS ! ", developed by the Center in Respond to AIDS. Besides, leaflets for the parents were developed and delivered to their home by children. These classes are carried out under the special order of Ministry of Education. Due to these classes the growth of knowledge of children, teenagers and youth is marked, the skills of safe behavior and healthy image of life are formed at them.

At the same time there are unsolved problems in HIV prevention and struggle. The weak material and technical base constrains realization of all potential abilities of the Center in Respond to AIDS. Despite of it, the Center constantly supports partnerships with the similar Centers of CIS, works according to the recommendations of WHO and UNAIDS basing to the international experience in its activities.

We would be glad to collaborate with everyone, to whom our activity is interesting and with gratitude we would familiarize with any interesting experience of work.

We would be grateful for rendering of the material and moral help to the members of association "Imdad-SOS".

We address to all people of good will with our motto

" Rescue of humanity from AIDS depends on each of us!"

Memory Day of People Died of AIDS.

For the first time on May 11, 2000 Azerbaijan National Center in Respond to AIDS and Association "Imdad-SOS" help for people with HIV/AIDS marked memory day of people died of AIDS. These activities were widely distributed by mass media and have aroused the large resonance. The representatives Muslims, Orthodox and Jewish religions read prays to 12 died citizens of the Republic and to all victims of AIDS worldwide. For the first time we bring names of victims of AIDS in Azerbaijan:         Hasan, 42 years old         Khaleddin, 36 years old         Aydyn, 19 years old         Afrasiyab, 56 years old         Namig, 39 years old         Volodya, 43 years old         Shahin, 32 years old         Adalyat, 31 years old         Hidayat, 35 years old         Tofig, 37 years old         Gulnara, 37 years old         Newborn child

Mass HIV Testing Day, July 1, 2000.

This year the 6 th National Mass HIV Testing Campaigns will be held in the world in order to identify number of HIV carriers. Basic goal of the campaign is to encourage high risk group population which includes drug users and their wives, homosexual contacts, people with STD, people living abroad for long time, people which were transmitted unscreened donor blood , as well as all citizens of the Republic and foreigners, worrying for their health for conscience, voluntary, free of charge and anonymous HIV testing and consultation. HIV Testing Campaign also increases population awareness on HIV/AIDS.

To be informed about AIDS means to be healthy!

In this regards for the first time in the Republic Azerbaijan National Center in Respond to AIDS announces July 1, 2000 "Mass HIV Testing Day". Mass HIV Testing Campaign would be held under the motto "Take the test, take control over behavior".

Campaign will start on July 1, 2000 at 900 and will continue for twenty-four hour period. Any persons wishing to be tested and to have consultation for HIV can visit our Center ( 34 , J. Jabbarly str., between bus terminal and "Nizami" metro station.) to take free of charge, voluntary and anonymous HIV testing and consultation.

Persons who are not able to go to the Center can give 2 ml of blood in acceptable for them health care setting or in any another place. In such cases blood samples collected from persons with number and code name have to be transported to Azerbaijan National Center in Respond to AIDS . Tested persons would get their HIV testing result on 3 July 2000 after 1500 by calling 94 99 24 and saying number and code name. Blood samples from medical setting collected from patients for other studies have to be transported to the Center indicating only the number without name.

In this regards press conference was held at the Baku Press Club on June 29 ,2000 at 12:00.

Azerbaijan Nongovernmental Association "Imdad-SOS" - help for people with HIV/AIDS.

Association"Imdad-SOS"-help for people with HIV/AIDS-the only nongovernmental organization in Azerbaijan having social base - about 100 HIV/AIDS patients, their close relatives as well as lawyers, psychologists, sociologist, teachers and physicians.

The name of organization "Imdad" translated as call for help, i.e. SOS.

The Association was officially registered by the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan Republic on August 19, 1998.

The association is created for providing moral, material, social, psychological, and legal help to the people living with HIV/AIDS.

Activities in the Association based on participation of HIV-infected people in preventing spread of AIDS which is very essential for both them and community.

The Association "Imdad-SOS" held a charitable concert "Azerbaijan against AIDS" in April 1999, where more than two thousand youth participated. Acquired funds were given to HIV-infected people and to their relatives to meet their needs.

Due to intervention of the Association, the charge in intention infection was taken off from HIV-infected person.

The three condemned HIV-carriers were preschedully released from places of deprivation of freedom with the help of association "Imdad-SOS".

Under the initiative of the Association "Imdad-SOS"- help for people with HIV/AIDS the issue on social rehabilitation of HIV-infected and AIDS-patients was submitted to government's consideration and was solved , as each HIV carriers have already perplexed in their life. If there is necessity and the consent of the HIV carrier , the group of physical inability is establishing for him.

Besides the Association "Imdad-SOS" carries out some projects to increase HIV/AIDS awareness among schoolchildren and students in various places of Azerbaijan. HIV-infected people and their relatives are involved to take part in these activities.

For the first time in the Republic the "World memory day of people died of AIDS" was marked with involvement of mass media and of clergy in the beginning of May, 2000. The members of the Association prepared-"Quilt", as symbol of memory of people died of AIDS where the names of people died of AIDS in the Republic were written.

The number of people with HIV/AIDS in Azerbaijan increasing each day. All these people are in hard position. It is difficult for them to keep themselves and their families, let alone combination of therapy. They don't afford such treatment due to the expensive antiviral drugs.

But despite of it, these people are ready to help other people and are glad to participate in all activities, which will be carried out by the Association in order to prevent spread of HIV/AIDS in Azerbaijan. The association plans implementation of many projects on prevention of HIV/AIDS in Azerbaijan, implementation of which needs much finances, office equipments, of which the Association has not at its disposal. But HIV/AIDS patients do not loose their hopes and address to all AIDS organizations with the purpose of granting any help for implementation of their projects.

We would be grateful for rendering of the material and moral assistance to members of the Association "Imdad-SOS" in creation of club for HIV-infected people.