AFEW: Projects >> Harm Reduction Training Projects (Russian Federation)

Harm Reduction Training Projects
Russian Federation

PROJECT DURATION: January 2002 through December 2004

DONOR(S): The UK's Department for International Development (DfID; www.dfid.gov.uk)

PARTNER(S): The Open Health Institute (www.ohi.ru); The Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (www.minzdrav-rf.ru; www.depart.drugre.ru); Regional governmental and non-governmental organisations

REGION(S): Russian Federation

BACKGROUND:
Currently, the Russian Federation (RF) is experiencing an uncontrolled HIV/AIDS epidemic. As of 1 August 2003, the number of registered cases of HIV had increased from 1 071 cases at the end of 1995 to 248 005 cases or a prevalence of 169.8 per 100 000 population according to the Russian Federal AIDS Centre. The majority of infections have occurred amongst injecting drug users (IDUs) and is now spreading to the rest of the population via sexual contact.

Since most experts, including the World Health Organisation and the Russian government, assume that the actual number of cases is 3.5 to 4.5 times the official figure, many researchers now believe there may be more than 1 million people in the RF infected with HIV (the number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Western Europe is about 560 000 [UNAIDS, 'AIDS epidemic update, 2002']). The Russian Federal AIDS Centre predicts that the figure will to rise to 5 million people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the RF by the end of 2005.

OVERALL OBJECTIVE:
To support the development and implementation of a comprehensive and sustained country-wide training programme on HIV/AIDS prevention strategies among IDUs in the RF according to international standards and thus to reduce the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the RF.

PROJECT PURPOSE:
At the end of the three-year project cycle, three (3) sustainable Russian Training Centres capable of developing and implementing training related to HIV/AIDS prevention amongst IDUs and offering technical assistance to regional harm reduction (HR) organisations will exist and be recognised by governmental and non-governmental agencies as expert Russian establishments.

TARGET AUDIENCE(S):
Existing and to-be-developed regional harm reduction (HR) programmes targeting IDUs which are funded by the Open Health Institute (OHI)

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE(S):
· To establish a regional HR training programme which supports 43 HR projects
· To carry out regular site visits to the regional HR programmes for on-site training, technical assistance, and training needs assessments
· To train three (3) non-governmental organisations and/or training centres in the development and implementation of training and technical assistance on HIV/AIDS prevention strategies among IDUs for regional HR programmes
· To increase the information flow and networking capacity between the HR projects, professionals and the general public in order to raise public awareness towards the current HIV/AIDS epidemic and to stimulate further social acceptance of HR strategies in society at large

(EXPECTED) RESULTS:
· Site visits demonstrate the improvement of services to IDUs after setting a baseline for HR and/or needle exchange points (NEP) at the beginning of the project cycle measured via observations, standard interviews with IDUs and staff, and project data, etc. Appropriate services will translate into an increase in the number of clients per HR and/or NEP, a decrease in needle sharing amongst IDUs, an increase in the number of distributed syringes and/ or needles and condoms, and an increase in the number of IDUs referred to rehabilitation services (if available).
· As part of the exit strategy and to sustain on-going regional training and technical support, three (3) regional training centres will be selected for further capacity building in order to achieve a gradual hand over of activities from AFEW to those organisations. At the end of the three-year project cycle, these Russian organisations will be able to develop and implement training for Russian HR projects that equals international standards.
· Respective HR organisations will actively participate in networking amongst municipal steering committees, participate in the Central and Eastern European Harm Reduction Network (CEE-HRN), set regular round table discussions, and contribute to the existing Harm Reduction in Russia Newsletter for EECA. Observations and standard interviews during site visits will demonstrate the adequacy of networking.
· Tolerance amongst professionals towards HR activities will be improved.
· Public awareness related to the HIV/AIDS epidemic will be raised.

(EXPECTED) MATERIALS PRODUCTION:
Brochures:
· 'Safety First' by Marsha Rosenbaum - 1 000 copies
· 'Overdose' - 3 000 copies
· 'Hepatitis' Comic - 3 000 copies
· 'HIV and AIDS' Comic - 3 000 copies
· 'HR Programmes in the Russian Federation' - 3 000 copies
· '15 Facts about HIV Prevention' - 3 000 copies
· 'Veins' - 3 000 copies (in press)

Manuscripts and Readers
· 'Drugs, Set and Setting' by Norman Zinberg - 1 000 copies
· 'Care and Treatment for IDUs Living with HIV/AIDS' (in press) - 1 000 copies

Newsletters -3 000 copies per issue
· Harm Reduction in Russia, №1 - 2002, Sex Work
· Harm Reduction in Russia, №2 - 2002, Law Enforcement
· Harm Reduction in Russia, №3 - 2002, Science
· Harm Reduction in Russia, №4 - 2002, Сhurch
· Harm Reduction in Russia, English edition - 2002, Compilation
· Harm Reduction in Russia, №1 - 2003, Prisons
· Harm Reduction in Russia, №2 - 2003, Mass Media
· Harm Reduction in Russia, English edition -2003, Compilation

RESEARCH COMPLETED AND PLANNED BY AFEW:
A rapid situation assessment (RSA) was undertaken in Togliatti, RF, that aimed to describe the HIV and injecting drug use situations as a means of outlining the need for future HIV prevention services for IDUs. A larger research and development project in Togliatti and Samara, aimed at the control of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as well as HIV prevention amongst IDUs, was funded by the UK Department for International Development (DfID). The RSA was carried out in collaboration with Imperial College and AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Dr. Yury Sarankov
Senior Programme Advisor on IDU and sex-work issues
AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW)
Email: yury_sarankov@afew.org

Asya Bidordinova
Senior Project Co-ordinator
Harm Reduction Training Projects
AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW)
Email: asya_bidordinova@afew.org

Office Address:
Chayanova St. 15/5
Moscow 125267 Russian Federation
Tel: + 7 495 250 6377
Fax: + 7 495 250 6387
Website: http://www.AFEW.org

International Postal Address:
AFEW
P. O. Box 75752
1070 AT Amsterdam
The Netherlands