HIV Is Spreading In Russia

Russia’s anti-AIDS coordinator says the number of registered HIV cases is growing 10 percent a year despite increased government funding.
Vadim Pokrovsky says Russia must spend the funds more wisely by focusing on prevention as well as treatment in order to slow the spread of HIV.
He says he fears the global economic crisis could threaten future funding.
Pokrovsky says Russia has registered a total of 471,000 people as HIV-infected, including more than 50,000 who have died of AIDS-related causes. He told reporters Friday that the actual number of people with HIV was likely higher than 1 million.
The government says it budgeted 10.7 billion rubles ($445 million) for the cause last year - at least 50 times more than in 2005.