Over 1,500 returning migrants test positive for HIV in Uzbekistan

Last year, 434,000—or 25 percent—of the 1.7 million Uzbek citizens who returned from abroad voluntarily underwent HIV/AIDS testing. Among them, 1,512 individuals were diagnosed with the disease. This was revealed during a regular session of the "Milliy Tiklanish" Democratic Party faction in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis.

It was noted that, due to the absence of legal requirements for mandatory medical examinations in such cases, the majority of returning citizens do not get tested. A draft law, discussed in its first reading by the party faction, proposes mandatory HIV testing for Uzbek citizens aged 18 to 60 who have stayed abroad for 90 consecutive days or more, as well as for foreign nationals entering Uzbekistan for employment purposes.

According to the bill's initiators, HIV typically begins to manifest in the human body after approximately 90 days.

“The most important thing is that a citizen returning from abroad, if concerned about their own health and that of their family, should undergo medical testing immediately. These tests will be provided at the state's expense,” party representatives emphasized.

As a reminder, the Milliy Tiklanish party previously introduced a bill proposing that the sentence of a convict be reduced by three days for each approved book they read and pass an exam on. This initiative aims to enhance the knowledge and cultural awareness of inmates, support their social reintegration, and promote their spiritual and moral development while serving their sentence.