In early 2018, four civil society organizations started implementing the AFEW-Tajikistan strategy to involve key populations in development, implementation and monitoring of projects on HIV prevention and social support for the key populations.
This AFEW-Tajikistan initiative includes three areas of work, namely - creation and supporting Key Populations Advisory Councils (KP Councils) activities; introduction of Clients complaints system for public HIV service organizations’ clients (the Complaints System); and supporting the participation of KP Councils’ representatives in monitoring of the project "Bridging the Gaps: Health and Rights for Key Populations -2.0" implemented by AFEW-Tajikistan and seven other public organizations in Tajikistan.
Thus, the first KP Council has been established by the AFEW-Tajikistan in Bokhtar. Further, KP Councils have been established in Dushanbe under NGO "Vita", under NGO "SVON Plus" in Kulob city, as well as under NGO "Amali nek” in Khudjand city. The NGO "Tajikistan Network of Women Living with HIV" coordinates and renders mentoring assistance to the councils members.
Nowadays, 16 representatives of key populations actively participate in local councils and contribute to improving the quality and accessibility of services for drug users and other key groups affected by HIV epidemic or living with HIV. The councils’ meetings are open to all. Any client of public organizations involved in the implementation the project "Bridging the Gaps: Health and Rights for Key Populations -2.0" can take part in the councils activity, share their opinions and assess the quality of services.
Reference: The Republican public organization AFEW-Tajikistan has been worked in the public health sector of the country for fifteen years and directed its efforts to improve population health. The organization promotes human health and key populations’ access to prevention, treatment and care of HIV, tuberculosis, hepatitis C and provides sexual and reproductive health.
Supporting initiatives of the key population’s representatives community, the AFEW-Tajikistan introduces innovative approaches that increase efficiency, economy, quality of life, satisfaction of its clients, which in turn leads to the organization’s work improvement and enhances quality of services provided to the key populations.