INFOBITS
US President commends AIDS infoshare
On April 21st of this year, US President Bill Clinton publicly thanked AIDS infoshare
for its work in Russia. A reception was held at the US Ambassador Pickering’s residence,
Spaso House, during Clinton’s most recent visit to Moscow.
UN AIDS Director meets with AIDS infoshare staff
Peter Piot, Executive Director of UNAIDS, visited the Moscow office of AIDS infoshare
on May 14th. AIDS infoshare was asked by the Russian Ministry of Health to host this
informational meeting. It was called in order to give NGOs and UNAIDS a chance to
learn about one another’s activities. Also present at the meeting were representatives
from: We and You, Ogonyok/VID/Anti-SPID, AIDS-Aid (Tomsk), Association of the Fight
against AIDS, The NAMES Fund, and the Russian Ministry of Health.
AIDS infoshare human rights series to premiere on Russian national
television
AIDS infoshare is planning a series of six public service television programs which
will address ideas of human rights in the medical setting. The programs will be approximately
seven to ten minutes in length and will each depict a common violation of patients’
rights and a discussion of Russian legislation and practical suggestions for patients
for avoiding or improving the situation.
Russians travel from 14 cities for AIDS infoshare training workshops
AIDS infoshare held three simultaneous workshops in Moscow March 8-9. Over 50 people
participated from 14 Russian cities. The workshops were: Human Rights and Health,
presented by Australian Julie Hamblin of the United Nations Development Program on
human rights and medical ethics; Basic Computer and E-mail Skills, where participants
received hands-on training; and Organizational Management and Strategic Planning.
Russians learn basic computer and e-mail skills on their new Apple Macintosh computers.
Russian staff given scholarships and conduct workshops at XI
International AIDS Conference in Vancouver
Alena Pyorishkina and Stanislav Erastov received full scholarships to attend the
XI International Conference on AIDS, which will take place July 7-12 in Vancouver,
Canada. They will be trainers in the Community Forum and Skills Building Workshops.
AIDS infoshare will also have a booth in the exhibit hall.
Infoman makes
his debut
Infoman is the mascot of AIDS infoshare. He represents a fun, friendly approach to safe sex messages, in contrast to the fear campaigns which characterized sexuality education during the time of the Soviet Union. Infoman’s design was donated by Linda Gilligan, a graphic designer from Oakland, California.
AIDS infoshare staff asked to lead workshops in Siberia
In September, Julie, Stas and Lena of AIDS infoshare will travel to Chelyabinsk,
Tomsk, Novosibirsk, Barnaul, Omsk. In all of the cities, they will hold meetings
with partner organizations and offer technical assistance. In Novosibirsk, they will
help lead the human rights component of a seminar being held by World Learning, Women:
Better, Stronger, Wiser for a Healthier Tomorrow.In Omsk, they will be conducting
a workshop with Wendy Arnold from the Peer Education Program of Los Angeles on sensitivity
training for people working with women’s health.
