1. Experiences of the Russian Red Cross in Providing Medical/Psychological Assistance to HIV+ women and Children born to HIV+ mothers
Irkutsk City (East Siberia)
Russian Federation

3. Facts about the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the Russian Federation
Russia has the biggest AIDS epidemic in all of Europe
Approximately 350,000 HIV cases have been ‘officially’ registered in the Russian Federation (Russian AIDS Centre, 2005)
Actual number of total infections is believed to be over 860,000 (UNAIDS, 2004)
Young injecting drug users are fueling the epidemic (340,000 IDUs registered in 2004)

4. The HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Irkutsk Region (East Siberia)
Dramatic increase in HIV:
4,500 cases in 2000
20,000 cases in 2005
Rapidly changing dynamic:
In 2000, the epidemic was fueled almost entirely by IDUs
Today, 50% of all cases are among women who were infected through heterosexual transmission
More than 2,000 children born to HIV+ mothers since 1999

5. “The Care & Support Project for PLWHA”
Project Goal: Improved quality of life for PLWHA, including HIV+ pregnant women and children born to HIV+ mothers
Target beneficiaries: PLWHA, including HIV+ pregnant women and children born to HIV+ mothers
Start date: February 2003
Donor: Private Funding by U.S.-based Foundation, in partnership with the American Red Cross

6. Project Goals and Objectives
Objective 1: Improve healthy behavior and disease management skills for PLWHA
Objective 2: Decrease experiences of fear or stigma reported by PLWHA (from themselves, healthcare workers, family and friends)
Objective 3: Reduce risk of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV
Objective 4: Improve psychological and physical development of children (0 -6 years old) born to HIV+ mothers

7. Objective 3: Reduced Risk of Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT) of HIV
Interventions/Activities
Providing home visits and counseling to HIV+ pregnant women and new mothers
Partnership with AIDS Center on referral system
Monitoring adherence to ARV therapy in coordination with the AIDS Center

8. Objective 4: Improve the physical and physical development of children born to HIV+ mothers
Interventions/Activities
Distribution of food parcels and vitamins to families
Psychological support for children born to HIV+ women
‘Stigma and discrimination’ trainings for teachers and health workers

9. Program Strategies Information and Counseling Center (ICC “Steps”)
HIV/AIDS Information and Counseling Center
(ICC “Steps”)
HIV/AIDS Hot Line
Peer support group for PLWHA (first of its kind in Irkutsk)

10. Program Strategies Information and Counseling Center (ICC “Steps”)

11. Program Strategies Visiting Nurse (VN) service of the Russian Red Cross
The VN service of the Russian Red Cross was established 60 years ago
During the Soviet times, the VNs provided care for vulnerable populations, particularly elderly populations
Post-Soviet Union, the range of services provided by VNs has grown to include care for vulnerable children, TB patients, and PLWHA

12. Program Strategies Visiting Nurses & HIV programming
Activities/Interventions
Regular monthly screening visits to vulnerable families with children born to HIV+ mothers, coordinated with the AIDS Center
Counseling of parents about prenatal prevention of HIV infection, nutrition and, adherence to ARV therapy
Monitoring of mental/physical development of children born to HIV+ mothers

13. Program Strategies Visiting Nurses & Home-based care
Activities/Interventions:
Psychological support to HIV+ pregnant women and young mothers with the purpose of preventing social abandonment of children
Delivering food packages to children and ensuring the intake of essential vitamin supplements
Training for health workers on home-based care in coordination with the Pediatric services of the AIDS Center

14. Manual on Care & Support of PLWHA: for Visiting Nurses and Caregivers
Epidemiology of HIV
AIDS-related diseases
Nutrition
Treatment
PMTCT
HIV prevention among caregivers
Psychological needs of PLWHA
Legal and human rights of
PLWHA

15. Manual on Children and HIV Infection: for Teachers, Psychologists, and Social Workers
Social/psychological needs of PLWHA
and their family members
Needs of children affected by HIV
infection
HIV prevention
Prevention of social abandonment of
children born to HIV+ mothers
Promotion of legal rights and integration
of HIV affected orphans

16. Program Strategies Partnerships with Local/Regional Government
Ministry of Health (MoH)
AIDS Center:
Coordination of home visits to affected families
Joint training for health workers on needs of PLWHA
Sharing of data and M&E reports
Hospitals/Health Clinics
Information dissemination and education
Referral system for clients

17. Key Program Results
92% of pregnant women participating in the project stated that they are taking better care of themselves
84% of young mothers started visiting AIDS doctors regularly and became for conscientious about taking ART
98% of project beneficiaries stated that their knowledge of HIV improved

18. Best Practices and Lessons Learned
Strong partnership and coordination with local authorities, including the AIDS Center
Greater involvement of PLWHA into project activities
Prevention of ‘stigma and discrimination’ among health care workers
First of its kind peer support services and counseling led by PLWHA

19. Partners & Collaborators
American Red Cross (ARC)
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
Pact’s Community REACH
US Agency for International Development (USAID)
International Research and Education Exchange (IREX)
UNICEF
Pfizer (USA)
All-Russian Network of Harm Reduction (Russia)
… and many more!

20. In Loving Memory of Margaret Ann Cargill (1921 - 2006)

21. Thank you for your time! For more information please contact :
Dr. Anna Zagaynova
Russian Red Cross/Irkutsk Oblast
Irkutsk 35B Sverdlova Street
Telephone/fax: +7 (3952)
+7 (3952)
mail.ru
Mr. Ramine Bahrambegi, Health Delegate
American Red Cross
Moscow, , Russia
5 Cheriomushkinsky Proezd,
Tel/Fax: +8 (495) /5263
Mobile: +8 (916)