Int’l group says most Azeri HIV cases ‘could have been prevented’

Recent studies show that the vast majority of Azerbaijani youth have little idea of how HIV/AIDS is transmitted or how to protect themselves from the disease, which increases the risk of infection, International Medical Corps (IMC) has warned.

“Meanwhile there are now more than 1,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Azerbaijan, only a tiny fraction of the 39.5 million cases worldwide but more than twice as many as just three years ago,” the group said in a statement issued on Thursday.

To address this urgent problem, International Medical Corps received funding from BTC/SCP to create an interactive educational CD-ROM aimed at increasing HIV awareness and continues its distribution among diverse parts of populations, including youth both in Baku and the regions.

IMC has already distributed more than 400 copies of the CD-ROM in Azerbaijan and will continue this effort on World AIDS Day by partnering with two local NGOs, HAYAT and Association to Fight AIDS. The distribution will be accompanied by consultations, quizzes and interactive games conducted by social workers from each NGO.

“Learning through interactive media is an excellent way by which people, especially youth, can learn about HIV,” said Mehrnaz Davoudi, Senior Programs Manager for IMC Azerbaijan.

International Medical Corps is a U.S. based leading public health international NGO with more than six years experience working with the government of Azerbaijan to strengthen the country’s healthcare sector.*