A Place Of Extremes - Fighting TB & HIV In Mongolia
Mongolia is a place of extremes. It is a large country with a small population and a long, harsh winter. The inhospitable Gobi Desert lies to the south and there are mountains to the north with a vast steppe in between.
While many people live the traditional, nomadic life of herders, growing numbers live in the capital. Nearly one million of Mongolia’s 2.8 million people are registered residents of the city of Ulaanbaatar. However, unofficial figures put this number as high as 1.3 million. Increasing numbers of people are migrating to the city from the provinces to look for work, many of whom live in gers (white felt tents) on the outskirts of the city.
The country’s most serious public health issues due to infectious diseases can also be described in terms of extremes. TB is Mongolia’s most serious infectious disease problem right now. By contrast, only 21 people had tested positive for HIV as of June 2006. However, the potential for an HIV epidemic is enormous.
One million migrant workers cross Mongolia’s borders every year. The country’s two next-door neighbors, China and the Russian Federation, have serious and growing HIV epidemics and the world’s second- and twelfth-highest TB burdens, respectively.
In addition, Mongolia has high rates of other sexually transmitted diseases; the health infrastructure in rural areas is poor; knowledge of the methods of HIV transmission is low; and poverty levels are high. Finally, much of the population is mobile, traveling to Ulaanbaatar or other countries for jobs or trade, going to mining sites for seasonal work or moving with their herds.
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Students try to keep warm in the harsh winter of Mongolia
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