Tashkent Regional Branch of the Republican Public Association IMKONIYAT

Brief Information on the Activities of NGO “Imkoniyat” Public Association of the Republic of Uzbekistan

NGO “Imkoniyat” Public Association of the Republic of Uzbekistan is one of the first non-governmental non-profit organizations in Uzbekistan, having obtained legal status on September 30, 1993. Since its establishment, the Association’s activities have focused on disseminating knowledge on palliative care among the population through the publication of brochures and books, as well as the provision of medical, social, and psychological services.

For the first time in the Republic of Uzbekistan, NGO “Imkoniyat” Public Association of the Republic of Uzbekistan developed and introduced into production an import-substituting test system for the detection of antibodies to the HIV virus — “Peptoscreen-2”, which was successfully used by all AIDS Centers and laboratories throughout Uzbekistan from 1991 to 2010.

Since its establishment, the Association has implemented a number of internationally significant projects. In particular, grants funded by Counterpart International (USAID), Soros Foundation – Open Society Institute (USA), and Help the Hospices (UK) have been successfully implemented. Staff members of the Association have received specialized training in palliative care for people living with HIV (PLHIV) at the Hospice and Palliative Care Center in Brasov, Romania.

Currently, NGO “Imkoniyat” Public Association of the Republic of Uzbekistan participates in the implementation of projects supported by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Since 2011, for the first time in Uzbekistan, the Association has introduced the practice of providing palliative care to people living with HIV (PLHIV).

At present, 16 stationary and 14 mobile multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) have been established at AIDS Centers across the Republic. These teams include an infectious disease physician, psychologist, nurse, driver, and peer counselors, and they provide palliative care services to people living with HIV.

In addition, MDT staff conduct weekly mutual support and self-help groups for people living with HIV, including adults, adolescents, children, and women. Overall, more than 70,000 people across Uzbekistan have received palliative care over the entire period of project implementation.

Furthermore, an agreement was concluded between the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and NGO “Imkoniyat” Public Association of the Republic of Uzbekistan (Agreement No. MA 0532 dated July 17, 2023, valid until November 1, 2024) to implement a project supporting a KAP study (Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices) and awareness-raising campaigns among potential and returning migrants and their family members. The project aims to improve access to HIV prevention and treatment services for migrants and their families in Uzbekistan.

The paid staff of the Association consists of 145 employees, of whom 76 people (52.41%) are PLHIV, belonging to vulnerable population groups and potentially persons with disabilities. Among them, 29 employees (38.16%) have been officially recognized as persons with permanent Group II disability.

Based at NGO “Imkoniyat” Public Association of the Republic of Uzbekistan, an initiative group has been established in the form of a women’s division of the Association. This division focuses on the development, promotion, and implementation of initiatives and projects aimed at providing assistance and support to HIV-positive women and girls exposed to gender-based stigma, multiple forms of discrimination, and violence. The division operates in accordance with regulations developed and approved in 2019 and currently does not have separate funding.