Speaking at a State Council meeting on urgent measures to stop the spread of HIV-AIDS in Russia, President Vladimir Putin said that in 2006 alone 3.1 billion roubles has been allocated as part of the Healthcare national project for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of HIV and hepatitis B.
The President called for the organisation of accurate and objective monitoring of the spread of HIV and for coordination between the federal ministries and agencies in their work.
Carrying out preventive work among the groups most at risk of HIV infection is of vital importance, Mr Putin said. The President noted that Russia already has a good number of projects underway in this area but that they are not linked by a common strategy.