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.
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