A lack of response from the Russian government, as well as limited public awareness about HIV/AIDS, is causing the country to lose the battle against the disease, according to Richard Holbrooke, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (The Associated Press, 10/25).
"You are in terrible, terrible danger here in Russia," said Holbrooke. "I'm terribly sorry to say this—this is not a political statement."
Russia had about 390,000 documented cases of HIV in August 2007; however, some experts say that the figure is closer to 1.6 million and could grow by 30 percent in the next two years.
Eighty percent of Russia’s HIV cases are among people ages 15 to 30 years old, which makes the disease pose a threat to the country’s economy, according to the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
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Overheard in the Women's Forum
"I recently met a guy who is negative. I did tell him about my status and he decided to kiss me anyway (we didn't go further than that). But a day later, he called and said that he actually had a mouth ulcer that time when we kissed and he was very worried. Asked if he can get the virus from me that way. For that moment, I felt so insulted and yet I felt so bad. It was my first time having a contact with a "negative" guy."
