Russia Will Not Use HIV Spending to Fund Needle Exchange, Methadone Therapy, Reuters Reports

Though Russia is doubling its budget for HIV in 2012 over 2010 levels, "no money will go to such internationally recognized efforts as needle exchanges" and methadone replacement therapy, Reuters reports. "Moscow doesn't believe these approaches help slow the spread of HIV/AIDS," and "[s]ome health workers and global HIV authorities are angered and baffled by Russia's approach, which they say will only aggravate the problem," the news service writes. The article examines how government spending for HIV will be used, with only three percent of about $600 million expected to go toward prevention programs in 2012, and how non-governmental organizations are coping with cuts in funding from international donor programs (Ferris-Rotman/Koppel, 12/21).