Driven by widespread drug use, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, the government’s limited capability to respond and the stigma attached to people infected with the virus; the number of HIV positive people in Russian Federation will probably rise to 5 to 8 million by 2010. According to official figures, Russia has between 2 and 3 million drug users. Statistics also show an increase in infection through sexual transmission as commerical sex work increases. Today, more children are being born outside of wedlock and end up living in orphanages or on the street.

As the number of children born out of wedlock increases, so does the number of abandoned children. More than 800,000 children under the age of 18 are abandoned and live in state run institutions. Perhaps as many as two to three million more are living on the streets of Russian cities.

Children of HIV positive mothers are considered to be HIV positive as well. Additionally, there is a problem of “temporary” commercial sex workers, i.e. students and others, who periodically work in the sex trade.

Russia is only now entering the phase wherein the virus is spreading from high risk groups into the general population. Intervention in terms of prevention and advocacy are critical at this moment.

Hiring a professional to network with key providers of HIV/AIDS services, decision makers at the presidential, ministerial and parliamentary levels, mass media, churches, UN organisations, USAID, World Bank, other major donors and access additional funding, is key to the success of ongoing efforts of World Vision in Russia. This professional will start 2 pilot projects and:

• Develop a Peer to Peer training module
  
• Develop a school drama project
  

Further more he/she will act as a catalyst to initiate:

• A close cooperation and a project with the Moscow Russian Orthodox Patriarchate
  
• An education project for orphanage staff regarding HIV/AIDS
  
• Development of a hospice
  
• Development of an HIV/AIDS hotline