Embassy News
American-funded Youth Center for HIV Prevention Opens in Ashgabat
PAS No 209
March 4, 2008
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| On March 4, 2008, representatives from USAID, CAPACITY, the Turkmenistan Ministry of Health and Medical Industry and the Turkmenistan Youth Union gathered in front of the newly opened HIV/AIDS Prevention Center in downtown Ashgabat. |
Charge D’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy, Ambassador Richard Hoagland, spoke at the opening and stressed that, “throughout the world, people recognize that a country’s youth is its most important asset. As everyone here recognizes, the increasing risks posed by HIV/AIDS is a concern for youth around the world… That’s why the United States is proud to be a part of efforts that will protect youth in Turkmenistan and in other countries.”
The Youth Center is part of the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) CAPACITY project. It will work with youth who are at increased risk for contracting HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, and drug use. The center will organize activities such as language courses, computer classes, sports, and social clubs. Young people will also be able to receive counseling on reproductive health, social support, and referrals for medical treatment. The center is based at the Magtymguly Youth Union.
The USAID-funded CAPACITY project assists the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan to develop infrastructure for a large-scale response to the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. It represents a network of organizations working on HIV prevention and one of the many projects that the American people have made possible in Turkmenistan. Since 1993, USAID has been working in partnership with Turkmenistan to improve health care, promote agriculture, and support community initiatives.
