Russia reports over 69,000 new HIV casesMarch 25, 2013 - 21:42 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia registered more than 69,000 new cases of HIV last year, the country’s top public health official said on Monday, signalling that there has been no letdown in the rising spread of the virus, according to RIA Novosti. Gennady Onishchenko told a scientific conference in Moscow that around 720,000 people have been diagnosed with HIV in Russia since 1987, when the first case was officially registered. Onishchenko said more than 6,300 of those cases were among children aged below 14. The figure for last year is a notable increase on the 62,000 confirmed HIV cases in 2011. Russia has struggled to tackle its combat its HIV epidemic since the fall of the Soviet Union. Drug use remains the main transmission route for the disease, with contaminated needles accounting for 56 percent of all infections, Onishchenko said. Russia has an estimated 5 million drug addicts - a situation blamed mostly on cheap heroin from Afghanistan. But sexual contact, mostly heterosexual, is gaining in prominence. Almost 40 percent of the people that contracted HIV in 2011 did so through sexual contact - a 4.5-percent increase on the previous three years. The Russian government has earmarked 19 billion rubles ($600 million) for HIV prevention and treatment in 2012-2013, according to Health and Social Development Ministry data. The UN says the number of HIV-positive people around the world is estimated at 34.2 million. In 2011, about 1.7 million people died from AIDS-related causes worldwide. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. |