Putin calls for "long term strategy" to fight AIDS in Russia

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2006

MOSCOW (AFP) — President Vladimir Putin has called for Russia to draw up a "long-term strategy" to combat the country's AIDS epidemic, adding that he would put the matter on the agenda of July's G8 summit in St Petersburg.

"The situation is worrying and demands a proactive attitude from society. A long-term strategy is indispensible", Putin told a meeting of regional leaders at the Kremlin.

Russia's five-year plan against AIDS comes to an end this year, and the regional leaders are expected to come up with proposals for its renewal.

"Our task is to limit the spread of the virus as much as possible", Putin said, noting that previous programmes had delivered a reduction in the number of new contaminations from 88,000 in 2001 to 33,000 in 2005.

"The...