October 20, 2007: Russia’s first Rehabilitation and Development Centre for Children with HIV
On October 20th, Carel de Rooy, the United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF Representative in the Russian Federation and Belarus and Oksana Fedorova, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador took part in the opening ceremony of Russia’s first Rehabilitation and Development Centre for abandoned children with HIV. The Center is located on the premises of the Republican Infectious Disease Hospital (RKIB) in Ust-Izhora, a St. Petersburg suburb. 25 pre-school age HIV-positive children from all over Russia will live at the Centre. UNICEF has been working with RKIB for ten years now. Since the department for HIV-positive abandoned children was opened at the hospital in 1999, UNICEF helped to ensure that children at the hospital are provided with both treatment and development. The new building of the Rehabilitation and Development Centre was funded by the Peter Ustinov Foundation, established by world famous actor and director who himself served as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for 30 years. Marmelad Media Company that produces popular cartoons for kids Smeshariki visited the Cenre and gave gifts to each of the children at the Center. Another guest at the ceremony was Oksana Fedorova – ex Miss Universe, famous Russian TV hostess that was appointed as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador this September. Talking at the opening ceremony Dr. Evgeny Voronin, Chief Doctor of Republican Infectious Diseases Hospital, said the new building is intended for the smallest children and each child will have his or her own room. The building will also host game rooms and music practice hall. “We don’t want our Centre to resemble a hospital” – says Voronin. He wants each room to have individually designed furniture. “Some of the children will spend many years here and they need to be comfortable,” – he adds.
ЮНИСЕФ Россия |
