June 7th 2007 saw the opening of a 2nd Inter-Parliamentary Conference of Central Asian Countries including Azerbaijan in Astana (Kazakhstan). This International Conference devoted to HIV and AIDS was remarkable in that it was attended, for the first time in history, by the Turkmen high officials, i.e. Ministers and Members of Parliament. The event was also attended by the Ministers of Health of the Central Asian states.

Over the next two days the Conference participants will discuss priorities of international cooperation, issues around legislative provisions for measures to halt HIV spread and will exchange experience gained by countries of the region in improving legislation on HIV and AIDS. The Conference agenda includes such issues as development of sustainable funding mechanisms in order to effectively utilise resources to localise the pandemic in the future.

The Government of Turkmenistan has, for a long time, been in denial about HIV and AIDS – “There is no AIDS in Turkmenistan. And if there is, then the numbers are way too small.” Officials proudly reported:

Turkmenistan is one of the countries in the world where this horrific disease has not been spread.

According to official statistics, there have only been two cases of HIV infection among citizens of the country from 1989 to 2007. According to unofficial data, around 300 HIV cases have been registered in Ashgabat alone.

Governmental organisations and a small handful of local non-governmental organisations have all eagerly implemented various projects on HIV and AIDS prevention among drug users, youth and people recently discharged from prisons. Western NGOs and UN agencies have with even greater eagerness been providing funding to support these activities.

In reality, this eagerness has resulted in nothing more than published materials of a questionable quality and relevance: long, didactic and medically orientated (hence boring) lectures about prevention of sexually transmitted infections, plus embarrassing distribution of condoms to astounded villagers living in remote areas of Turkmenistan.

The situation requires an effective state programme but the country’s leadership persistently considers issues of AIDS as “shameful” and “unworthy of mentioning”.

No one knows real numbers of HIV positive people in Turkmenistan. Those who might know would never speak openly about it.

Institute of War and Peace Reporting:
Denial of HIV by the government and lack of an appropriate prevention work with young people have considerably increased the risk of HIV pandemic in the country.
There are no resource centres in Turkmenistan for people living with HIV. Chances for anonymity when undergoing HIV testing are extremely low.

The participation of our good members of parliament at such a conference is comforting, however let’s wait until needle exchange centres and anonymous HIV testing cease being abstract concepts for Turkmenistan’s leadership.