RUSSIA: ANTI-AIDS CAMPAIGNERS MARCH THROUGH STREETS TO MARK INTERNATIONAL AIDS AWARENESS DAY

Record ID: 347530

  • Title: RUSSIA: ANTI-AIDS CAMPAIGNERS MARCH THROUGH STREETS TO MARK INTERNATIONAL AIDS AWARENESS DAY
  • Date: 3rd December 2004
  • Summary: (U6) MOSCOW, RUSSIA (DECEMBER 1, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. SLV STUDENTS; SLV STUDENTS CHANTING IN FRONT OF RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT BUILDING; MV POSTERS 0.30 2. SLV MOSCOW OPEN UNIVERSITY EXTERIOR; MV INTERIOR ACTIVISTS GIVING UP CONDOMS TO STUDENTS; STUDENTS TAKING CONDOMS; MV STUDENT INFLATES CONDOM WITH HIS MOUTH; MV MORE HANDING OUT OF CONDOMS 1.26 3.
  • Embargoed: 18th December 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Reuters ID: LVA8LYD4351E453O5M1AWHOB0FY9
  • Story Text: Anti-AIDS campaigners have marched through the
    Moscow streets to mark the international AIDS awareness day.

    Across the world, activists and governments were due
    to mark the AIDS day on Wednesday (December 1, 2004) with events
    drawing attention to the disease and promoting its
    eradication.

    According to the latest data released by the World
    Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations anti AIDS
    programme (UNAIDS) the number of people living with HIV in
    Eastern Europe and Central Asia had reached an estimated
    1.4 million by the end of 2004, an increase of more than
    nine-fold in less than ten years.

    The Russian Federation is home to the largest epidemic
    in the entire region and Europe. It accounts for some 70%
    of all HIV infections officially registered in Eastern
    Europe an Central Asia.

    An estimated 860,000 people were living with HIV in
    Russia at the end of 2003, 80 percent of them aged 15-29
    years and one third of them women.

    On Wednesday Moscow students staged a protest in front
    of the Russian government building demanding more financing
    to fight the disease.

    "Our deaths are your shame", chanted the students.

    Russian Chief sanitary doctor, Gennady Onishenko,
    acknowledged the epidemic is growing fast, and said the
    government plans to speed up their efforts.

    "Health ministry is taking the whole range of measures
    to put down the prices and increase financing. These are
    two ways for us to help meet the requirements of those in
    need, said Onishenko.

    "Another problem is lack of awareness of the society
    of the seriousness of the situation," he added.

    Several hundred activist from a Moscow charity
    promoting AIDS awareness among children marched through the
    city centre with anti AIDS banners and posters.

    As part of the campaign, some activists were giving
    up condoms to students at one of the city's universities
    in an effort to promote safe sex and prevent the spread of
    the disease.

    In another awareness campaign a modern art gallery
    unveiled an installation called "Red tulips of hope". The
    organisers said red paper tulips were sent over to Moscow
    from around Russia, and symbolize hope for victory over
    AIDS epidemic.



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