DUSHANBE, May 17, Asia-Plus  -- An action to honor the memory of those who died of AIDS will be held in Khujand, the administrative center of the northern Sughd province tomorrow, Farrukh Ahrorov, the head of the MGM Journalists’ Association, said in an interview with Asia-Plus.   

According to him, the action will start with observing a minute of silence to commemorate the victims of HIV/AIDS.  Brochures containing data and materials about problems facing people living with HIV/AIDS will be distributed to those present.     

            The action aimed at drawing attention of the public to the fact that HIV/AIDS sufferers are equal members of our society and should no be discriminated, Ahrorov said.    

The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is organized every year on the third Sunday of May to commemorate those died from AIDS, to demonstrate support to people living with HIV/AIDS, to draw attention to the problem of rapidly spreading epidemic of HIV/AIDS and to mobilize communities for combating HIV/AIDS.

The action in Khujand is held by the MGM Journalists’ Association in partnership with the Sughd health directorate and the finance department within the Khujand mayor’s office under support of AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW).    

            According to the Ministry of Health (MoH), 1,153 HIV sufferers have been officially registered n Tajikistan as of April 1, 2008; 183 of them now undergo antiretroviral treatment