World Vision: Don't Underestimate Moscow AIDS Conference
One of the world’s largest humanitarian agencies believes the first European and Central Asia AIDS conference in Moscow is significant although changes have yet to be seen.
As hundreds of officials, activists, and health workers meet for the last day of the first European and Central Asia AIDS conference in Moscow, one of the world’s largest Christian humanitarian agencies believes the conference is significant although changes have yet to be seen.
“While the results of the conference remain to be seen, don't underestimate its significance, especially with Russia hosting the G8 this year,” said David Womble, program director for World Vision Russia Federation on Wednesday. “Russia is still looked to as taking the lead on regional issues in the former Soviet Union. If Russia can be seen as proactive on AIDS, the benefits will extend well beyond its borders.”
Beginning on Monday, leaders, scientists, government and non-governmental organizations, and people living with HIV met to share experiences and develop common approaches to fight AIDS in the region. The theme of the three-day conference in Russia’s capital was “Facing the Challenge.”
Get Our Latest News for FREE
The former Soviet Union state is confronting a rapid increase in new HIV infections with a 20-fold rise in less than ten years to 270,000 in 2005. There are nearly 350,000 people officially registered as HIV-positive but the United Nations believes the number is more realistically between 840,000 and 1.2 million. According to WV, the most commonly accepted value is 1 million or about one percent of the population.
Most of these new infections are among the younger populations with more than 80 percent of Russians infected with HIV under 30, threatening Russia’s next generation of professionals, mothers, soldiers and teachers.
“The timing could not be worse. Russia is experiencing a demographic crisis,” noted the WV Middle East/Eastern European Office. “Birth rates are down, tens of thousands are emigrating and male life expectancy is decreasing…. HIV and AIDS is found in almost every part of the country.”
Moreover, Russian men live 16 years less than men in Western Europe and 14 years less than Russian women.
“It took years of massive media exposure to get AIDS in Africa on the world's agenda for Africa. Russia will get on the world's agenda but it definitely needs to happen before the crisis of those needing treatment truly explodes,” cautioned WV’s Russia Federation program director.
The Eastern European and Central Asian AIDS Conference was organized by Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Federal Service of the Russian Federation for Surveillance in Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare, AIDS Infoshare, and International AIDS Society (IAS).
