KHUJAND, July 25, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- Another AIDS center will open in northern Tajikistan soon. 

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Abdujalil Jabborov, director of the Sughd Center for Prevention of AIDS and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), said that everything is now ready for opening of another AIDS center in the province.  

            According to him, the center will be set up at the Center for Sanitary and Epidemiologic Supervision in the Istaravshan district.  “All premises have already been made ready to place offices and lab,” Jabborov said, noting that the new center is expected to have a staff of 15.  

In addition to the Istaravshan district, the center will also serve residents of the districts of Shahriston, Ghonchi and Kuhistoni Mastchoh, Jabborov said.  

“Earlier, such centers have been set up in Isfara and Panjakent and we intend to open another one in the Bobojonghafurov district,” Jabborov stressed.  

According to official data, 313 HIV sufferers now live in northern Tajikistan.