AFEW: For journalists >> The Launch of a Russian Language Manual on HIV/AIDS for Prison Health Staff. Response to the Massive HIV Epidemic in the Former Soviet Union

The Launch of a Russian Language Manual on HIV/AIDS for Prison Health Staff. Response to the Massive HIV Epidemic in the Former Soviet Union

More than 37 240 inmates currently live with HIV/AIDS in the Russian Federation alone as a result of a massive epidemic that is raging in the former Soviet Union. In response, an HIV/AIDS reference book - 'HIV in Prisons' -- for medical and general staff in penal institutions was developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW), Médecins Sans Frontières - Holland (MSF-H), Penal Reform International (PRI), and The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). All parties involved worked in close co-operation with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.

This unique reference book was conceived in Spring 2001 by AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW), WHO and PRI. 'HIV in Prisons' meets the needs of prison doctors given that there is still a vacuum of information about HIV/AIDS in relation to the penal system of the former Soviet Union. It covers all aspects of health promotion and treatment related to HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in the system. The authors used the full range of expertise among specialists working in the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health in order to reflect the current reality in the Russian context and to meet their needs in writing the book. 'HIV in Prisons' can be used as a tool to contribute directly to the improvement of health inside and outside NIS prisons.

'HIV in Prisons' was produced thanks to financial support from the Open Society Institute (OSI) for the range of activities involved in its development, and ICRC supported the Russian translation. Eight thousand (8,000) copies will be sent to every prison in the Russian Federation and to all Federal AIDS centres and drug treatment clinics. Further distribution will include institutions and professionals in Ukraine, Belarus, Republic of Moldova and Central Asia.

A Press Conference dedicated to the launch of this HIV/AIDS manual for medical and other staff in penal institutions in the Newly Independent States will take place on 17 April 2003 at 11:00 at RIA Novosty, 4 Zubovsky Boulevard, Moscow, Russian Federation.

Speakers at the press conference will include:
- Sergei B. Selivanov, Chief Sanitary Doctor of the GUIN of the RF
- Aleksander T. Goliusov, Head of Epidemiological Department, Ministry of Health of the RF
- Vadim V. Pokrovski, Head of the Federal AIDS Center, MoH RF
- Murdo Bijl, Deputy Operational Director, AFEW
- Paul English, Executive Director, PRI
- Vincent Lusser, Head of Communications Dept., ICRC
- Marina Semenchenko, Coordinator on HIV/AIDS programmes, WHO
- Osman Altejb, TB Specialist of MSF

For additional information please contact Communications Department at:
tel. +7 095 2506377
fax. +7 095 2506387
info@afew.org