ACTIVITY DATES: September 2006 - August 2009

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: Rostropovich-Vishnevskaya Foundation

REGION(S): Buryatiya Republic, Irkutskaya oblast, Primorskiy kray, Sakha Republic

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

This project is helping develop a compelling epidemiological basis for the inclusion of Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib) vaccine in the Russian national immunization schedule.  The program is investigating the incidence of Hib infections at selected sites in the Russian Far East and implementing a strategy of Hib infection prevention in young children in Vladivostok through a pilot vaccination program.  Based on these activities, the project will demonstrate the efficacy and safety of the Hib vaccine and develop recommendations to add the vaccine to the national immunization schedule.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:

The Vishnevskaya-Rostropovich Foundation (VRF) started providing immunizations for Hib in Vladivostok in July 2008.  VRF plans to vaccinate all children aged between 2 months and 2 years of age throughout the region under the project.

VRF conducted training seminars for health workers on Hib vaccine usage, safety, efficacy and contraindications.  Training seminars for microbiologists on culture techniques and use of latex agglutination also were held.

An education and information campaign for parents about the medical need for and safety of the Hib vaccine is being conducted in collaboration with the Vladivostok Department of Health.

ACTIVITY DATES: October 2001 - September 2008

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

REGION(S): Belgorodskaya oblast, Chuvashiya Republic, Kaliningradskaya oblast, Khakasiya Republic, Moskovskaya oblast, Orlovskaya oblast, Pskovskaya oblast, Saratovskaya oblast, Vladimirskaya oblast

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

This interagency project provides training, clinical expertise and information exchange on infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections. 

Based on an agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of International and Refugee Health, the project is carried out by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:

The CDC provided technical assistance in infection control improvement to regional tuberculosis (TB) program sites in Orel, Vladimir, Belgorod and Chuvashiya.  In Orel and Vladimir, activities to strengthen laboratory performance were implemented and a PETTS research (effectiveness of second line drugs for TB) was launched.  A laboratory information management system, the StarLIMS program, also was launched and relevant training was provided to Russian specialists.  Operational research on analysis of TB/HIV strategies in Kaliningrad and Orel Oblast continued.

As part of its efforts on HIV/AIDS and other STIs, the CDC designed and launched a prospective assessment of various contraceptive methods among HIV-positive women in St. Petersburg.  The CDC also collaborated with the SANAM Foundation to design and implement a cross-sectional survey of STI/HIV and associated risk behaviors among most at risk populations.  A retrospective record review in five regions was conducted to identify risk factors for congenital syphilis and describe the magnitude of the problem.

Technical and infrastructure support and training were provided to governmental and non-governmental institutions to increase clinical and laboratory research, surveillance, information technology, and prevention capacity. Thirty-eight Russian field and research staff members were trained in the U.S.

ACTIVITY DATES: October 2007 - October 2010

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: American International Health Alliance (AIHA)

REGION(S): Irkutskaya oblast, Moscow, Orenburgskaya oblast, St. Petersburg

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

This partnership initiative, which is part of the 2005 Bratislava Presidential HIV/AIDS Initiative, consists of two main components:

• Third Country Capacity Building: the short-term deployment of Russian health professionals, primarily laboratory specialists, to third countries to provide technical assistance to strengthen the capacity of laboratory services to address HIV/AIDS, TB and other infectious diseases, and
• Strengthening Russian Medical Educational Institutions: the development of training capacity in HIV/AIDS and other infectious disease in Russia through improved training curricula and the establishment of AIDS Training and Education Centers (ATECs) at regional sites in Russia. These regional ATECs can also serve as resource centers for other countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:

A Russian partner (MedBusinessConsulting company) was chosen to manage selection and logistical support for the deployment of specialists to third countries.  Russian laboratory experts have been sent to assist in Tanzania, Ethiopia and Namibia. A needs assessment trip was conducted in Botswana.

An agreement on cooperation in the development and approval of three educational courses on HIV-related topics for postgraduate education was signed with Moscow University of Medicine and Stomatology (MMSU) on February 3, 2009.  Specialists from Belarus, Uzbekistan, Moldova and Ukraine have trained at the regional ATECs.  The Sechenov Moscow Medical Academy and AIHA are currently in the process of finalizing a new manual on HIV for students.

ACTIVITY DATES: March 2006 - August 2009

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: World Health Organization (WHO)

REGION(S): Amurskaya oblast, Arkhangelskaya oblast, Astrakhanskaya oblast, Bryanskaya oblast, Chechenskaya Republic, Chelyabinskaya oblast, Chitinskaya oblast, Chuvashiya Republic, Dagestan Republic, Evenkiyskiy autonomous okrug, Ingushetiya Republic, Ivanovskaya oblast, Kabardino-Balkariya Republic, Kaliningradskaya oblast, Kalmykiya Republic, Kaluzhskaya oblast, Kamchatskaya oblast, Kemerovskaya oblast, Khabarovskiy kray, Kirovskaya oblast, Komi Republic, Kostromskaya oblast, Krasnodarskiy kray, Krasnoyarskiy kray, Kurganskaya oblast, Kurskaya oblast, Lipetskaya oblast, Magadanskaya oblast, Moscow, Moskovskaya oblast, Murmanskaya oblast, Nizhegorodskaya oblast, Novosibirskaya oblast, Omskaya oblast, Orenburgskaya oblast, Orlovskaya oblast, Permskaya oblast, Primorskiy kray, Rostovskaya oblast, Ryazanskaya oblast, Sakha Republic, Sakhalinskaya oblast, Samarskaya oblast, Saratovskaya oblast, Severnaya Osetiya-Alaniya Republic, St. Petersburg, Stavropolskiy kray, Sverdlovskaya oblast, Tambovskaya oblast, Tatarstan Republic, Tomskaya oblast, Tverskaya oblast, Tyumenskaya oblast, Ulyanovskaya oblast, Vladimirskaya oblast, Volgogradskaya oblast, Vologodskaya oblast, Voronezhskaya oblast, Yaroslavskaya oblast

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
This project works to develop close cooperation between the Government of Russia, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other UN agencies to ensure that modern preparedness and response mechanisms are in place to effectively control the spread of avian influenza (AI) and minimize its potential impact.  Project activities aim to improve surveillance, laboratory capacity and infection control within hospitals.  The WHO provides technical support and training in prevention, surveillance, verification, outbreak investigation, patient management, containment, communication, and other activities related to avian and pandemic influenza.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:

A curriculum with teaching materials for multidisciplinary training on avian influenza preparedness and response were developed. A team of bilingual facilitators was created and 210 specialists (epidemiologists, infectious disease doctors, veterinarians, laboratory personnel, emergency responders, and communications specialists) from AI affected regions of Russia were trained through seven multidisciplinary courses.   

A curriculum and training materials in molecular diagnostics of AI were developed. Six 3-week courses on molecular diagnostics were conducted for 74 virologists from 37 regional laboratories. Recommendations for the creation of a laboratory network were also provided.

Two pilot courses on patient management and infection prevention and control for avian/pandemic influenza and other epidemic -prone acute respiratory diseases were held for 50 clinicians and epidemiologists.

The WHO reviewed the Russian national program on influenza pandemic preparedness and response, as well as a few regional contingency plans. Pilot pandemic preparedness assessments were conducted in accordance with international requirements. Nineteen senior officials involved in pandemic preparedness participated in the pilot evaluation workshop. Strategies were developed for the implementation of laboratory core capacities in compliance with the 2005 International Health Regulations for Influenza A/H5N1 and Pandemic Influenza.

Through the project, key Russian experts have participated in international conferences and study visits to the U.S. and UK. The Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector" was appointed the WHO Collaborating Center on Avian Influenza.

ACTIVITY DATES: September 2001 - September 2010

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

REGION(S): Adygeya Republic, Belgorodskaya oblast, Khabarovskiy kray, Khakasiya Republic, Pskovskaya oblast, Yevreyskaya autonomous oblast

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

This project is designed to assist Russia in the fight against a growing epidemic of tuberculosis (TB), including multi-drug resistant TB, by contributing to Russian efforts to implement internationally recognized, efficient approaches to TB control and the Global Stop TB Strategy.  The project is establishing comprehensive TB programs in 6 target regions, with a focus on community involvement in TB prevention and treatment.  The project model will be replicated in 20 bordering regions with support from a Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria (Round 4 TB) grant.

To complement to the Russian government's TB control service, the IFRC is developing sustainable and effective outreach and follow-up services through the Russian Red Cross and other NGOs.  Services include social, psycho-social and legal support to TB patients from vulnerable groups and families.  The project also provides technical assistance to TB dispensaries and community groups, and targets current and newly-released prisoners with TB.  Activities aim to increase early detection of TB, correct diagnosis of TB, patient adherence to treatment, and community involvement. The project also seeks to strengthen the capacity of local Red Cross branches to provide services for both TB and HIV/AIDS-related concerns.

A project subcomponent was added in 2005 under which the IFRC works in cooperation with the Russian Red Cross to increase HIV prevention efforts in the penitentiary system.  Activities aim to increase HIV awareness among inmates and prison personnel, provide psychological support to prisoners with HIV, enhance HIV+ prisoners' access and adherence to ARV treatment, and promote effective cooperation between the penitentiary system and civil society.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:

A model of psychosocial support to TB patients to ensure treatment adherence has been established at all 6 program sites, and replicated in 20 bordering sites through a Global Fund Round 4 TB grant.  More than 1,000 health professionals and about 800 Red Cross workers have been trained in TB control.

Psychological, social and legal support has been provided to more than 12,000 patients.  Treatment compliance has increased at all sites, with treatment interruptions registering in only in 2-4% of cases among civilian population (versus the country average of 11%) and in 10-15% of cases among ex-prisoners (the country average is 45-50%).

The International Green Light Committee has approved multi-drug resistant TB treatment for a total of 824 patients in Khakassia, Belgorod and Pskov Oblasts.  The approval for treatment in Khabarovsk Krai is pending.

Since receiving official recognition from the Federal Service for Sentence Execution, the sub-project has provided HIV prevention training to 996 penitentiary system officers and Red Cross workers, as well as 7,354 inmates.  Pre- and post-testing counseling services have been provided to 11,028 inmates and 10 "Living with HIV" training cycles (consisting of 5 workshops each) have been conducted for 131 people.

ACTIVITY DATES: August 1999 - September 2010

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS: World Health Organization (WHO)

REGION(S): Chuvashiya Republic, Mariy-El Republic, Novosibirskaya oblast, Orenburgskaya oblast, Orlovskaya oblast, Vladimirskaya oblast

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

This project is designed to assist Russia in the fight against its growing TB epidemic, including the dramatic rise of multi-drug resistant TB cases.  The World Health Organization (WHO) offers trainings and technical leadership to bolster Russian efforts to adapt and implement internationally recognized, cost-effective and efficient approaches to TB control. The "Stop TB Strategy" is implemented in both the civilian and prison populations, with an emphasis on developing effective regional models that have the potential to be replicated nationwide. 

Key elements of the project include: developing national guidelines on prevention, treatment and care; strengthening human resource capacity; strengthening laboratory capacity in the detection and diagnosis of multi-drug resistant (MDR) TB, including raising lab proficiency standards; supporting regional Centers of Excellence; and fostering national and international dialogue on TB control.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:

TB treatment success rates in the project's target regions reached 83%, which is close to the international gold standard.  The Government of Russia demonstrated its political commitment to the issue by raising national TB control funding to $991 million in 2007.

WHO trained more than 3,000 health professionals in TB control and introduced international standards for directly observed therapy, short course (DOTS) policies, strategies and protocols.

Centers of Excellence on TB infection control have been opened in Orel and Vladimir.  They provide training on innovative infection control methods for TB and MDR TB in collaboration with the Central TB Research Institute, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and private sector partners. 

With WHO technical assistance, 28 sites were approved by the international Green Light Committee for treatment of 6,064 patients with MDR TB.

A World Bank loan program on TB was successfully completed with technical assistance by WHO.