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PSI/Russia
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Program
Focus: |
HIV/AIDS
Drug Use Prevention |
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Target
Regions: |
Moscow, St. Petersburg, Orenburg, Krasnoyarsk, Nizhny Novgorod, Tomsk, Ulan-Ude, Pskov, Tver, Vologda, Kazan, Sakhalin Island |
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Target
Population: |
At-risk young adults (15-24), injecting drug users (IDUs), men who have sex with men (MSM), sex workers (SW) & their clients, and special risk groups, including military, families and partners of IDUs. |
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Current
Donors: |
GLOBUS Project with the support of The Global Fund To Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund)
U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID)
U.S. Department of Defense
Ford Foundation
Russian Health Care Foundation (Global Fund, Round 4)
ExxonMobil Corporation |
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| Year Program Began: |
1995 |
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Project Activities and Highlights
HIV/AIDS |
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PreventAIDS
The PreventAIDS program aims to reduce the prevalence of HIV in St. Petersburg City and Orenburg Oblasts. To that end, PSI/Russia is working with regional partners on interventions to effect long-term changes in HIV risk behaviors among most at-risk and special risk groups and to increase the capacity and availability of health and social services for these vulnerable populations. The program takes several key approaches: diverse modes of outreach (in the streets, hotels, drop-in zones, reaching clients through social networks), telephone hotlines, information/education/communication materials, and targeted case management – a continuum of service provision and referrals developed through the Improvement Collaborative. (see PreventAIDS fact sheet for details) |
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Abstinence and Be Faithful
Geared for young adults, PSI’s abstinence program is driven by dynamic peer education activities. These activities range from formal sessions held school campuses and summer camps to informal networking at concerts, nightclubs and street events where trained volunteers work the crowds to hand out IEC materials and answer questions. All peer education events employ IEC materials designed by PSI to promote healthy lifestyles and advocate abstinence, delayed sexual debut and partner reduction. |
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 GLOBUS Project
As a member of a consortium of five NGOs, PSI/Russia has
implemented Global Fund activities since 2004. This program
includes:
• HIV/AIDS Prevention
among Young Adults
PSI raises HIV/AIDS awareness among young people by conducting informational youth-oriented events, as well as trainings for medical specialists covering HIV/STI prevention and use of high-quality condoms. PSI also makes available high-quality condoms at an affordable price to NGOs, various community organizations, and governmental HIV prevention programs at their request.
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Time to Live! Television Series
Hosted by popular interviewer Vladimir Pozner, PSI/Russia’s Time to Live! regional television series was launched in 2005 through collaborative efforts with international and Russian NGOs. The television series addresses key issues of HIV/AIDS, including regional aspects of the epidemic, lack of mass media involvement, and local administration policy in HIV/AIDS prevention. The regional focus of the shows allows for much-needed discussion of how HIV affects the audience’s home region. Following the success of the Time to Live! series, PSI produced HIV: Myths and Reality, a documentary recounting real life stories of people living with HIV/AIDS in various Russian regions and the issues they face in everyday life. In addition, in collaboration with Vladimir Pozner, Time to Live! sponsored a nationwide HIV/AIDS coverage contest for TV journalists in the spring of 2006 and helped organize a school for journalists covering social topics. |
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LaSky: HIV/AIDS Prevention for MSM
HIV prevention activities are being performed with the men who have sex with men (MSM) target population in Moscow and several other regions of Russian Federation. The project entails development and distribution of IEC materials, conduct of outreach, trainings, and club events, as well as distribution of lubricants and high-quality condoms. The project is supplemented by a dedicated internet website and a crisis hotline. In Moscow, PSI expanded the reach of the project by implementing BCC interventions targeting deaf MSM, a high risk group that is particularly difficult to reach. Deaf MSM regularly face discrimination and, prior to this project, did not have access to any prevention information. In addition to GLOBUS, this project is also supported by Ford Foundation as well as Russian Health Care Foundation (Global Fund, Round 4). |
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VOIN: HIV Prevention in Military Men
PSI/Russia is partnering with the Ministry of Defense on an innovative project targeting military servicemen. The goal of the project is to reduce the spread of HIV infection in the Russian military through the production and distribution of IEC materials and conducting trainings among military medical and social education staff. In addition to GLOBUS, this project is also supported by Medicina Dlya Vas and the US Department of Defense. |
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• “Zhivi Muzikoy!” (Live with Music!) Youth Project
Beginning 2006, PSI/Russia is conducting a musical performance contest that includes a series of high-profile concerts targeting young adults ages 16-25 in the GLOBUS regions. The program engages local young performing artists in the HIV/AIDS issue on a long-term basis, while promoting proactive time use, healthy lifestyles and volunteerism. It attracts the stars of show-business to serve as positive role models and influence the attitudes and behaviors of young adults. |
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StopAIDS: Corporate HIV/AIDS Prevention Program
Russia became the latest country to launch StopAIDS as part of a global partnership between PSI and ExxonMobil Corporation. Beginning 2006, PSI/Russia is working with ExxonMobil’s affiliate Exxon Neftegas Limited in Sakhalin Oblast to develop and implement their workplace education program that includes employee trainings and distribution of IEC materials. Another important component of the program is the Local Capacity Building Initiative, which supports the work of regional NGOs engaged in HIV/AIDS prevention. |
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Regional Capacity Building |
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Partnerships Program
Under the AIDSMark program, PSI/Russia implemented the Partnerships Program from 1998 through 2005 to match developing Russian "apprentice" NGOs working in HIV/AIDS prevention with more experienced "mentor" NGOs working in the same area. The goal of the program was to strengthen regional NGO capacity in HIV/AIDS prevention work, build sustainable civil society in Russia and encourage grassroots advocacy for vulnerable minority. |
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Small Grants Program
Under PreventAIDS, PSI/Russia’s Small Grants Program supports regional NGOs across four regions to continue working on HIV/AIDS prevention targeting most at-risk populations. These organizations also work closely with government institutions to ensure strong linkages between the NGO and government sectors. |
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Since 2005, PSI/Russias Time
to Live! television series on HIV/AIDS issues has
been broadcast
in 14 different cities around the country, providing
a much-needed forum for region-specific discussion.
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