October 6, 2006: Social Assistance to Families, affected by HIV
On September 29th, 2006 a meeting of the Coordination Council of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation took place in Moscow regarding implementation of the European Union Project «Development of the System of Social Services for Most Vulnerable Population Groups». (Council Chair – О.V. Sharapova, Director of the Department of Medical and Social Assistance to Families, Mothers and Children of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation).
I.I. Lazutkina (from the Orenburg AIDS Centre) and Ye.V. Turkova (from the Ministry of Social Development of the Orenburg Region), reported the results of the project “Prevention of mother-to-child transmission, community-based care, treatment and provision of medical and social support to women and children affected by HIV/AIDS” which is implemented in Orenburg, Orsk, Novotroitsk and Gaj cities.
- Specifically, during the project implementation:
860 women in a difficult circumstances received regular prophylactic and medical attendance, including 400 pregnant women and 460 mothers with newborn infants;
- 6 women in a difficult circumstances underwent a course of social rehabilitation in the “Crisis In-Patient Department” in Orenburg AIDS Centre, 3 of them HIV+ ;
- 6 territories of the region have opened schools for HIV+ women “Positive Maternity”, “Ladushki” as well as the school “Little Mother” in the town of Gaj;
- 17 families with newborn infants have received free child nutrition (town of Novotroitsk);
- 318 families and children affected by HIV/AIDS have received social assistance;
- Targeted assistance is provided to families to receive child milk formulas, vitamins and foodstuff.
The Council decided that the UNICEF-supported Orenburg Region model should be documented, providing federal recommended methodological materials for replication in other Russian regions.
The joint order of the Orenburg Ministry of Health and of the Ministry of Social Development, “On organisation of medical, psychological and social assistance to pregnant women, mothers and children in a difficultcircumstances, including those affected by HIV/AIDS”, has raised interest by other Council representatives.
