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Controlling HIV/AIDS in Russia: Strategic Chokepoints & Opportunities. Olusoji Adeyi Health Program Team Leader for Russia The World Bank, Washington, DC October 4, 2002. Presented at Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Conference on
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Controlling HIV/AIDS in Russia:Strategic Chokepoints & Opportunities Olusoji Adeyi Health Program Team Leader for Russia The World Bank, Washington, DC October 4, 2002 Presented at Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Conference on The Second Wave of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic by
The problems Large and fast-growing epidemic Stuck at the pilot phase: why? Non-financial limitations Financial limitations Opportunities Promoting a more positive environment Doing what counts - - the centrality of science Relieving systemic constraints Building skills Ensuring adequate $$$ A Snapshot
Russia has a unique combination of: • Strong legacy of health services in the socialist model • Long-established institutions • Membership of G8 • Fast-growing epidemic of HIVAIDS • Large burden of TB • So far, a weak response to the epidemics
HIV/AIDS in Russia: Big & Growing 214,090 registered HIV +ve [Source: Russian Federal AIDS Center, 2002] Still a relatively small % of population, but • Rapid spread among high-risk groups, particularly high-risk youths • Evidence of spread into bridge populations • Increasing heterosexual spread (6% in 2000, 15% in 2001) • Likely spread into general population
1,800 1,500 1,200 900 600 300 0 Cumulative reported HIV infections per million population in Eastern European countries: 1993-2001 Estonia* Russian Federation Ukraine Cases per million population Latvia Belarus Moldova, Republic of Kazakhstan Lithuania 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Projected * actual 2001 year-end data Source: National AIDS Programmes (2001) HIV/AIDS surveillance in Europe. Mid-year report. Data compiled by the European Centre for the Epidemiological Monitoring of AIDS From UNAIDS and WHO. 2002.
How has it spread?(Cumulative, as of September 2002) Routes % Injecting drug users: 53.9 Unknown 40.9 Mother-to-Child 1.4 Heterosexual 3.2 Men having sex with men 0.4 Nosocomial 0.1 Source: Russian Federal AIDS Center, 2002
Major factors fueling further spread • Behaviors • IDUs sharing needles/ syringes • Unsafe sex.. • High prevalence of STIs …and, indirectly…. • Very weak prevention efforts • Increased vulnerability in the post-socialist era
Potential Economic Effects • Declining GDP • Declining investment • Decrease in effective, i.e., quality-adjusted, labor supply Source: Ruehl et al., 2002, http://www.worldbank.org.ru/eng/group/hiv/
Stuck in pilot projects:what prevents large-scale programs? • Inadequate attention to HIV/AIDS at high levels, but this is improving… slowly • Legal and regulatory obstacles • Social taboos • Inadequate financing • Limited implementation capacity
High impact prevention Targeted interventions for high risk groups (e.g., IDUs, sex workers, high-risk youths) Harm reduction is key Surveillance & mapping 100% condom use Diagnosis and Treatment of STIs Safe blood pMTCT Care and Support VCT Palliative treatment Diagnosis and treatment of opportunistic infections ARVs . . Based on sound protocols, with good laboratory backup Social support What is needed in Russia?
Opportunities for effective support to Russia
Promote a more positive environment for AIDS control Encourage / broker high-level commitment • Between governments • Through professional associations • Through international organizations Promote reforms of the judicial system • Crucial for prevention among IDUs • Reduce effect of prisons as epidemiological pumps
Doing what counts: the centrality of science Crucial, for maximum impact on epidemic: #1. Interrupt transmission among high-risk core transmitters #2. Prevent spread from high-risk core transmitters to bridge populations Desirable, but with less epidemiological impact: #3. Generalized information and advocacy by itself Ineffective: Moralizing & calls for total abstinence: wishful thinking
The central role of science:four key elements for tackling HIV/AIDS • Surveillance: well-trained investigators • Superior laboratories and staff • Effective communications technology • Public trust.. policy & advice based on evidence
Technical partnerships to ensure effective public sector roles • Oversight: policy, program design, evaluation • Direct public sector activities in some aspects • Surveillance: epidemiological, behavioral, virological • Scientific infrastructure to support prevention & care • Laboratories, training • Commissioning clinical trials • Integration into economic policy • Focus on outcomes, not on inputs
Ensuring adequate financing • Estimates of incremental resource requirements • Diagnostic equipment and supplies - - all levels • Condoms • Laboratory infrastructure for HAART
Conclusions:doing more & doing better What? • Cost-effective interventions • Supporting infrastructure and institutions How? • Support local leadership to make programs possible • Improved financing - - domestic and external • Strengthening management & implementation skills • Inclusion of multiple sectors as necessary