DUSHANBE, October 24, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- The second Central Asian forum on problem of drug taking and infectious diseases in prisons is opening in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan today.

Representatives of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) are representing Tajikistan at the forum that will last till October 31.  

The source at a MoJ said that the conference formally titled “Access to Medical and Social Services for Prisoners in Jails and during the Transition Period after Discharge” has brought together representatives of criminal-executive systems from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan as well Russia, NGOs and international organizations.

Senior representatives of ministries and organizations in charge of health care in penitentiary institutions are discussing prevention and treatment of socially significant diseases such as tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, drug addiction, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in penitentiary institutions.

Delegations will report on the present sanitary and epidemiologic situations in penal systems of their countries.     

According to the penal directorate within the Ministry of Justice of Tajikistan, 14 penal colonies, including one women’s penal colony, and six pretrial detention facilities now function in Tajikistan.  The number of HIV sufferers in Tajik penitentiary institutions is not disclosed.   

In the meantime, a total number of officially registered HIV sufferers in Tajikistan in now some 10,000 people.