A third #STOPHIVAIDS week has been held in the Russian Federation. Students, medical personnel, artists, athletes, religious leaders and young people came together for a week-long campaign from 15 to 21 May to promote free HIV testing and take part in flash mobs, trainings and sports competitions across the country to raise awareness about HIV.
Information about HIV was promoted by some of the country’s leading celebrities on national and regional television channels, while social media and private sector companies distributed campaign materials.
The #STOPHIVAIDS campaign is part of the Russian Government’s State Strategy and Implementation Plan on HIV in the Russian Federation until 2020 and beyond. The campaign was initiated by Svetlana Medvedeva, spouse of the Russian Prime Minster and Head of the Foundation for Social and Cultural Initiatives. The campaign was implemented with the active support of the ministries of health, education and communications, the Russian agency for consumer protection, Rospotrebnadzor and the Russian agency on youth affairs, Rosmolodezh, among others.
“I am confident that by joint efforts of the state and society, we will achieve the goal to stop the spread of HIV infection in our country..”
Svetlana Medvedeva Head of the Foundation for Social and Cultural Initiatives, Russian Federation
“In 2016, the coverage of HIV testing and treatment coverage of people living with HIV increased. We are on the vector to reach 90% of people living with HIV with treatment and are moving towards this goal.”
Veronika Skvortsova Minister of Heath, Russian Federation
“This timely campaign demands that all aspects of Russian society—the government, regions, civil society and international partners—unite to transform the new HIV strategy into results. UNAIDS is proud to support such a sustained campaign that transforms the end of AIDS into an urgent priority.”
Vinay P. Saldanha UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Eastern Europe and Central Asia
