'Afghanistan: Drug Addicts In The Spotlight', IRIN News, 28 April 2009
EXCERPT: "Awareness of the risks of catching HIV/AIDS and other diseases among Afghanistan's estimated 19,000 intravenous drug users is rising, but there is no reason for complacency, say experts. 'There is still potential for HIV transmission to reach an alarming level,' Catherine Todd, an expert from Columbia University, told IRIN in Kabul, adding that harm reduction programmes must increase in order to prevent an epidemic. A recent survey of 483 injecting drug users carried out by Save the Children US and Columbia University indicated that overall awareness about diseases such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and syphilis had increased. NGOs have been helping to raise awareness and the free distribution of needles and condoms had helped. However, the health risks are apparent from the survey, which showed that 37 percent of respondents were hepatitis C positive; two percent were HIV-positive; and one percent positive for syphilis."
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See also:
'Fresh violence as Kabul asks for narcotics control help', Radio France Internationale, 28 April 2009
'Afghan AIDS control program reports 556 HIV cases through 2008', Medical News Today, 27 April 2009
'Afghan officials burn 6.5 tons of illicit drugs', Los Angeles Times, 27 April 2009
Related posts:
'First HIV treatment centre opens', 22 April 2009
'Treatment lacking for addicts', 17 April 2009
'Lack of access may spread disease: Health Ministry', 4 November 2008
'2,500 HIV cases in Afghanistan, says Ministry', 8 August 2008
'Study on HIV/AIDS in Afghanistan', 9 April 2008
