Russia: Critics Continue To Attack “Hypocrisy” Over HIV/AIDS

By Pavol StracanskyMOSCOW, May 21 2014 (IPS) International bodies and local campaign groups have repeatedly criticised Russia for not doing anywhere near enough in terms of providing prevention services or access to medical treatment for HIV/AIDS sufferers. The fourth Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) HIV/AIDS Conference, which finished in Moscow last week, has not put a stop to that criticism. Boycotted by many domestic and international organisations working with HIV/AIDS sufferers and those most at risk of contracting the disease, the conference – and the Russian authorities’ overall approach to HIV/AIDS – was accused of blatant hypocrisy. The critics said that the hosting of the event in Russia, which has one of the world’s highest HIV/AIDS incidence rates, is a slap in the face for people in Russia with the disease or at risk of contracting it. And as ministers trumpeted their supposed good work, sufferers were continuing to be denied prevention services and treatment widely available in other developed states, campaigners said. Anya Sarang, head of the Moscow-based Andrei Rylkov Foundation for Health and Human Rights group, told IPS: “Giving any support to this conference is verging on the criminal. The conference shows not just the hypocrisy of a country with the worst HIV policy in the region, if not the world, but is also a waste of valuable money. “It is much easier [for Russia] to organise a conference and talk about how much money has been spent ...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: Global & Universal Authors: Tags: Europe Featured Health TerraViva Europe TerraViva United Nations Drug Addiction HIV/AIDS Russia Source Type: news