AEGiS-09IAC: Problems of a community HIV resource center in Russia.

9th International AIDS Conference


Berlin, Germany — June 6-11, 1993

Print this Article


Problems of a community HIV resource center in Russia.

Int Conf AIDS 1993 Jun 6-11; 9:123 (abstract no. WS-D20-3)
Gardner KJ, Savelyeva MV, Savelyeva IV, Altschuler S; Int'l Center for Better Health (ICBH), Moscow, Russia.

OBJECTIVE: To collaborate with several Russian, non-governmental AIDS organizations to create the first community HIV/AIDS/STD resource center in Moscow.

METHOD: ICBH in Moscow conducted needs assessments with AIDS workers and activists, organized a series of training symposia, and promoted the development of non-governmental AIDS organizations and their cooperation with each other and with governmental agencies. During 1992, three new AIDS NGOs appeared in addition to two already working. ICBH called a meeting of these NGOs, where they agreed to cooperate on a resource center.

RESULTS: Structural and cultural impediments to such a center have been the following: bureaucratic confusion in housing questions; a collapsed financial system and non-convertible currency that discourages investment and hampers fundraising; no legislation, tax benefits, or social foundation for non-profit, non-governmental organizations; laws, public health policies and institutionalized attitudes of and toward medical workers that promote discrimination against and fear by the populace, especially around AIDS; distrust between the AIDS NGOs and between Russians in general, hampering cooperation, information exchange, and confidentiality; dependence on Western aid mixed with xenophobia, resulting in passivity, resentment and manipulation of international organizations in Russia.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Social Welfare, Russia, HIV-1, Confidentiality, Needs Assessment, Moscow, ICA9KWDaegis,hiv,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hivinfections,socialwelfare,russia,hiv-1,confidentiality,needsassessment,moscow,ica9
930606
WSD203

Copyright © 1993 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.