DUSHANBE, March 27, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- An awards ceremony for the winners of the competition for the best article on the TB problems in Tajikistan is being held at the Kokhi Jomi Complex in Dushanbe today.

The competition was conducted under the aegis of the USAID-funded Project HOPE/Tuberculosis Control Program in partnership with press service of the Ministry of Health.

Speaking in an interview with Asia-Plus, Ms. Fotima Yoqubova, a spokeswoman for a MoH, said the goal of the competition, announced in January this year, was to promote development and active involvement of mass media in Tajikistan and increase professional skills of journalists in covering issues of the tuberculosis control problems in the country.

After consideration of all submitted works, the jury took the following decision: 1st place – Ms. Dilbar Khojayeva from press service of the Sughd health directorate (US$400); 2nd place – Subhiddin Sayfiddinov, correspondent with the weekly Salomat Boshed (US$300); and 3rd place -- Mardon Qurbonov, correspondent with the weekly Ozodagon (US$200).

The jury also decided to give encouragement prizes to Numon Nizom, correspondent with the weekly Minbari Khalq , and Numon Ahmadov, correspondent with the weekly AiF Tajikistan , the spokeswoman said.