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Transatlantic Partners Against AIDS, Moscow
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May 19, 2006

John E. Tedstrom

Russia: Hope and leadership in the fight against AIDS

Source: Izvestia

In late April, Russia’s State Council, chaired by President Vladimir Putin, came together to discuss HIV/AIDS; it was a milestone in Russia’s fight against this debilitating epidemic. IfRussia can fulfill the State Council’s newly articulated policies on HIV/AIDS and turn these promises into action, thousands of lives may be spared—and Russia could quickly emerge as a global leader in the fight against AIDS.

It is estimated that over a million people are living with HIV in Russia today; the epidemic is spreading rapidly into the general population through injecting drug use and unsafe sex.  Most at risk are those under 30—young adults who should be leading their country into the 21st Century.

By bringing the issue of HIV/AIDS before the State Council, President Putin sent a clear signal that he and his government are serious about making progress. The transcript of State Council meeting reveals that Putin went far beyond reciting well-known statistics about rates of infection and budgetary spending; he articulated a strategic vision for dealing with AIDS in a way that is aggressive, consistent with international public health standards, sensitive to marginalized groups and supportive of civil society.

Added Resources
Russia’s federal spending on HIV/AIDS is slated to increase nearly 20 times to roughly $110 million in 2006, with additional increases planned.  In partnership with major international donors such as the Global Fund and the World Bank, Russia is undertaking sizeable, multi-million dollar projects aimed at prevention, treatment and care of HIV/AIDS.  Yet, even these sums are not enough. All sectors of society – business, political parties, mass media and civil society – must do more, as happens in other countries.  

Scientific Advancement
Russia must become more active in the search for therapies, treatments, a vaccine and a cure for HIV/AIDS. Many leading international organizations would welcome the opportunity to work more closely with their Russian counterparts and to undertake large-scale research projects in Russia. This is especially important in the context of the work of the scientists on creation of vaccine, as well as microbicides that help prevent infection.

Setting up the governing body
Better coordination of efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS is needed. The creation of a high level coordinating body that actively involves non-governmental organizations and international partners promises to make a major and positive difference in the effectiveness of current and future AIDS programs.

Addressing HIV within Vulnerable Groups
Providing prevention measures for “vulnerable groups, the so-called risk groups” is extremely important to the fight against AIDS. Despite high concentrations of HIV among drug users and sex workers, HIV prevention services in these high-risk groups are not supported or downrighted banned in Russia (such as needle exchange, condom distribution, and substitution treatment for heroin addicts). These activities are being successfully undertaken in countries around the world, reducing the number of cases of new infection without an increase in drug use.

Putin’s announcement signaled the Kremlin’s embrace of human rights for all citizens, an essential element of any successful AIDS strategy.  No doubt, this and other announcements send an important signal about the direction of Russia’s political and social development. Their important and practical outcome is the State’s leadership with regard to partnership with non-governmental organizations. In particular, in his  speech at the Eastern European and Central Asian AIDS Conference earlier this week, an important event on the eve of the upcoming G8 Summit to be held in St. Petersburg in July, Igor Shuvalov, Assistant to the President of Russia, stressed that civil society was essential to the fight against AIDS.

John E. Tedstrom, Ph.D. is President and founder of Transatlantic Partners Against AIDS.  He served as Director for Russian, Ukrainian and Eurasian Affairs at the National Security Council for President Bill Clinton.

05.18.2006 State Duma Deputy Chairman Artur Chilingarov meets with leaders from the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise

Source: Parlcom

The Group of Eight (G8) leadership has endorsed the creation of a Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise. A coordinating body made up of 19 people, among them prominent public figures, ministers, politicians, scientists, and top managers of major biomedical companies, will manage activity of the Enterprise. "The State Duma attaches special significance to the AIDS proliferation issue,” said Artur Chilingarov. “We plan to discuss aspects of fighting AIDS at a meeting of members of parliament of the G-8 member-countries on June 8. The leaders of these countries fully understand how dangerous AIDS is.” “No country is immune to this threat,” said Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise Co-Chairman Michael Kazatchkine. “It is hard for experts in this area to admit that despite all the efforts made, the disease is spreading fast.”

According to Mr. Kazatchkine, it is important to scale up the development of the anti-AIDS vaccine. Russia, with its mighty research potential, might contribute substantively to the solution, which is slowed largely due to the lack of efficient collaboration and information sharing mechanisms, he said. First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Local Self-government Gadzhimet Safaraliyev declared that the Russian scientists made significant advances toward developing a vaccine but “when time came for the clinical trial everything ground to a halt” because of the lack of financing. The implementation of the federal “New Generation Vaccine” program was completed, but no follow-up program has been elaborated. Even though the funding of efforts to combat HIV/AIDS increased considerably in 2006, a mere 25 to 50 million rubles have been allocated for scientific research. As a consequence, “billions from the budget funds have been channeled to buy medicines abroad.” According to G. Safaraliyev, Russia needs a national vaccine center to bring together scientists from different regions, which would enable “spearheading their efforts in one direction.”

"All the best scientists must pool their efforts and do all they can to protect mankind from this scourge of the 20th century. But without money it would just be idle talk,” Chilingarov agreed. “We are prepared to give the Russian researchers who are working to develop the vaccine the green light all the way. It is necessary to mobilize the necessary resources, especially since Russia has this potential at present.”

Press Service of the State Duma of the Russian Federation