According to T.Khadkhuu, Chief of the National Committee on AIDS, there are between 650 and 1,000 drug addicts in Mongolia who use syringes, about 6,500 homosexuals and about 9,500 prostitutes. All three sections of the population are considered at risk for the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Khadkhuu’s report was presented at a seminar held over the weekend. It was organized jointly by The Red Cross of Mongolia, the National Committee on AIDS, and Mental Immune NGO. It discussed the progress of implementation of the national strategy on HIV/AIDS spread risk relating to drug use. Among those who participated were Khadkhuu; Sh.Ganbold, Deputy Chairman of the Criminal Police Board; T.Sainjargal, Chief of the Media Center of the General Police Department; D.Gantsetseg, Coordinator of the Global Fund project; 10 journalists; and inspectors of the Drug Crimes Department.
Ganbold compared the situation in Mongolia to that in the neighbor countries. He said six tons of drugs had been found in Siberia last year. Many between the ages of 18 and 30 use drugs in Buriatia, and about 1,000 students there have received medical help. China is believed to have more than 50 million drug users and 77,000 drug-related cases were registered there last year. Mongolia is threatened with becoming a transportation country because of its neighbor countries’ high demand for drugs.