In October, in the 4 largest regions of Russia, a large-scale information campaign #InYourPowerLife was launched (vsilah.ru).

Mission of the campaign: to show people living with HIV that the therapy gives a chance to be themselves, to live long in love and support of loved ones, regardless of HIV status. This is reflected in the slogan “HIV won’t change this”.

The site of the vsilah.ru information campaign contains the “capsules” with 12 encouraging stories told by people. By opening the capsule, you can find out about the lifestyle of the person living with HIV, find more facts about ARV therapy, and get help from peer counselors.

The campaign was initiated and implemented by the organizations “Humanitarian Action” (St. Petersburg), “Humanitarian Project” (Novosibirsk), the “Source of Hope” Foundation in Chelyabinsk (Chelyabinsk), the Regional Public Foundation “New Life” (Yekaterinburg).

Also, non-governmental and government organizations, information platforms, major bloggers and opinion leaders are involved in the project.

“It is only through joint efforts that our society has a chance to get rid of the many stigmas associated with HIV. And we will fight for every life,” notes Humanitarian Action.

The focus on Novosibirsk, Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk regions and the city of St. Petersburg was not occasionally chosen. Almost 200 thousand people with HIV live in these regions, which is about 20% of all registered HIV cases in Russia. Of these, almost 74 thousand do not dare to start the life-saving treatment. The heroes of the campaign “It’s in your power to live” tell why it is still important to make up your mind.

– “In Novosibirsk region, more than 10 thousand people have not started ARV treatment. If they don’t start taking therapy, they will die. The World Health Organization stated: HIV is not sexually transmitted if an HIV-positive person is on therapy and has an undetectable viral load. The epidemic will stop when all HIV-positive people are on therapy. If you know you are HIV-positive but are not receiving treatment, please contact us for help. We will help with the registration at the AIDS Center, this is our role in our common work. And the treatment is provided free of charge at the expense of the state,” says Denis Kamaldinov, head of the Humanitarian Project public organization.

– “In Sverdlovsk region, more than 12 thousand people have not started ARV treatment. Some of these people, due to clamps and discrimination in society, simply neglect their health and, most importantly, their lives, and many do not even know about their HIV status. Only together we have a chance to change something. And we will fight for every life,” says Vera Kovalenko, head of the New Life Public Foundation.

“During the period of self-isolation, we consulted people on HIV issues online and delivered the therapy to people who could not go for it themselves. We do not stop our work, no matter what, our mission is to fight for every life, to give hope. We are ready to help everyone get the necessary therapy, help with the registration at the AIDS Center. Moreover, today the treatment for HIV infection is available, and it is provided at the expense of the state. Taking therapy, a person reaches an undetectable viral load, which means (s)he can live a long time, not transmit HIV and give birth to healthy children. Only through joint efforts there is a chance to get rid of HIV-related fears, discrimination and stigma in society,” says Alexei Tananin, General Director of the Source of Hope Foundation.

The information campaign “It is in your power to live” is designed to solve three main tasks: bring more HIV-positive people to ARV therapy; make it clear that the diagnosis does not define the essence of the person; to remind that the love of loved ones, in fact, is unconditional. And #hivwon’tchangethis.

Public interest and increased demand in HIV testing caused by Yury Dud film prompted for the initiators of the international #InYourPower award to re-consider approaches to selection of nominees.

And it was quite expected decision that for the first time a journalist and a blogger Yury Dud became a nominee for the award, which previously was awarded only for mayors and politicians working in the area of combating HIV. And the nomination for Yury Dud is one of a kind – #DudEffect.

«We decided to support the decision to nominate Yury Dud for #InYourPower award. It’s simply impossible to pay no attention to such worldwide landmarking awareness raising effect in the area of HIV. This case drew attention of the highest public officials in Russian Federation and proved that you don’t necessarily need to be a politician to impact epidemics. First of all, you need to be involved and have something core inside in order to put your gift and media opportunities for the sake of millions of people who will stay alive as a result of timely testing. We are sure that such stories can drastically speed up overcoming the epidemics», – said Inna Gavrylova, the coordinator of the #InYourPower info campaign.

For the moment the application for nomination is sent to the Committee of Trust and will be reviewed during 2 weeks. Everyone who is willing to support Yury Dud and give a vote to him can do this at the web site https://inyourpower.life.

Prehistory

«From the very first day when HIV-2020 film was demonstrated we started to get requests from different countries to nominate Yury for the #InYourPower award. Everyone mentioned that drastic interest and impact to HIV detection produced by him, – Inna Gavrylova told. – We discussed this within the team and decided to attentively follow-up on the measurable impact produced by this case and not on discussion of Yury’s personality. That is how the post appeared about superior popularity of requests related to “HIV” and soaring interest (+ 4100%) of the Internet users ho HIV testing».

It’s interesting that the post caused new wave of publications in media which started to actively discuss that #DudEffect in action and tell how the film made people all around the world to think of their health and take HIV test.

So, in many media outlets, they switched from theory to practice: real facts were recorded in increasing numbers of people willing to be tested at AIDS centers, mobile outpatient clinics, testing centers based on NGOs, and record-breaking demand for tests was declared in pharmacies. “In large cities, the number of people willing to take the test has doubled,” says meduza.io.

In the comments on the Dud’s film, many of the viewers reported that they’ve already taken or are going to take an HIV test, and some admitted that the test was positive. They even wrote that this is “the very case when one person does much more than large-scale state educational info campaigns”.

Further on, politicians also started talking about the film and the problems of the HIV epidemic raised in it.

According to Gazeta.Ru, on February 14, a film by Yury Dud about the HIV epidemic in Russia was shown in the State Duma (Gosduma); it was the initiative of the first deputy head of the committee on health protection Fedot Tumusov.

Also, the film, which gained almost 15 million views by February 21, was appreciated in the Kremlin. Russian President’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov called the film by journalist and blogger Yury Dud about HIV in Russia a good one. This is reported by RBC. Moreover, according to Peskov, it is important that the Ministry of Health was “familiarized” with this work.

Deputy Minister of Health Oleg Salagay previously called this film “useful.” According to Salagay, the film provides a lot of important information about HIV, it can also encourage people to get tested and get the necessary treatment, but presentation of some facts in this video is “arguable”.

The Chairman of the Accounts Chamber, Alexei Kudrin, promised to test the effectiveness of measures taken to help HIV-positive people.

The tremendous excitement in testing, more than 15 million and video views perfectly demonstrated that even without political power or a magic wand you can influence the history of entire states, destroy entrenched bonds and help millions save their lives.

It turned out to be the power of a journalist and a blogger.

The regional information campaign #Inyourpower is supported by the representatives of the civil society of Moldova. Non-governmental organization “Inițiativa Pozitivă” joined the initiative.

«Now it’s extremely important to mobilize all the existing resources, — underlined Ruslan Poverga, General Director of the “Inițiativa Pozitivă” Association. — To take thoroughgoing steps, to use modern technologies, to convert words to actions at maximum dynamic pace. We can stop the epidemics, we have the power to save the lives!

You may learn more about the campaign and join it at the official web-site — inyourpower.life and in social networks – Facebook и Twitter. All the materials of campaign are available in 2 languages: Russian and English.

Hash tags: #вТвоихСилах, #inYourPower, #SoS_project

Combating AIDS is the job of not only the medical community and activists representing key populations. Important role in stopping the HIV epidemics belongs to politicians, governmental officials, as well as other representatives of other social and cultural spheres of life, according to the Association of Legal Entities “Central Asian Association of People Living with HIV”, which joined the #InYourPower initiative.

Director of the Kazakhsky Scientific Center of Dermatology and Infectious Diseases of the Ministry of Health of Republic of Kazakhstan (KSCDID) Bauyrzhan Bayserkin mentioned at the press conference devoted to the start of the information campaign «Crucial Role of Communities» devoted to the World AIDS Day that for today mobilization of all communities is of great importance, and political level has to be involved in resolving this issue: «Being implemented in partnership with government, these activities allow to keep HIV-related issues on the political agenda. It allows to eliminate barriers obstructing service provision by communities, to reduce stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV».

Bakhtiyar Artayev, well-known Kazakh boxer, Olympic champion and UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador at the press conference was speaking about the outstanding and famous people living with HIV who became world sporting legends. He underlined that everyone has to be the change agent as everything is #InYourPower.

It should be noted that Kazakhstan demonstrates the significant progress in combating HIV epidemics. In the formula of the global 90-90-90 aim, the first 90 is almost achieved: number of people knowing their HIV status in the country is 84% already.

It’s very significant achievement, according to the Association of Legal Entities “Central Asian Association of People Living with HIV”, but remaining percent consists of those who are out-of-sight of the healthcare and social systems, who do not apply to the official institutions in the system of Ministry of health because of the existing barriers. It is about key populations.

“The problems of key populations existing in the country can be resolved only through cooperative efforts of the communities, governmental structures, civil society, and international organizations – all those involved and interested in effective and sustainable response to HIV epidemics”, — the organization mentions.

The initiators of the #InYourPower campaign have developed a number of visual materials for those willing to join it. These materials will help to express one’s position and attitude more clearly and to bring their message more effectively for those who have the tools to impact the situation with HIV at the level of the governmental authorities.

To get the visual materials one has to follow the link to the «Download» section of the web-site and to download the object of interest.

The catalogue presented by the #InYourPower initiative contains the cards for selfies, posters, calendars for 2020, and even banners.

Let’s remind that the #InYourPower campaign is focusing on the efforts on the public officials and politicians, effective NGO-government partnerships as well as on specific successes of the EECA countries in combating HIV/AIDS. The major goal of the campaign is to find new heroes and inspire the whole region.

You may learn more about the campaign and join it at the official web-site — inyourpower.life and in social networks Facebook and Twitter. The campaign hash tags: #вТвоихСилах, #inYourPower, #SoS_project

Aybar Sultangaziev, Executive Director of the Partnership Network Association, supported the information campaign #InYourPower and told about Kyrgyzstan experience:
“Kyrgyzstan demonstrates real commitment to overcome the HIV epidemic.
Not just dialogue, but joint work of the state and civil society allowed to:
– significantly expand public funding,
– ensure low prices for ARV drugs,
– launch the state social order in the area of HIV,
– start the broad treatment adherence campaign
And two largest cities in the country signed the Paris Declaration!”

It’s #InYourPower to end AIDS!
Join! Nominate!

“#SoS_project is a working strategy to save lives, and our campaign is a simple and clear action guide that will explain that in order to stop the epidemic you don’t need to be a magician,” comments Dmitry Sherembey, head of the Coordinating Council of the CO ” 100% Life. “The dialogue between patients and officials, the optimization of procurements, tolerance and, most importantly, the ability to listen and hear each other – these are simple steps that are necessary to stop the epidemic.”

Vinay P. Saldanha, UNAIDS Regional Director for Eastern Europe & Central Asia:

“It is extremely important today to reach a new level of dialogue and interaction between civil society and state partners. I hope that within the framework of SOS_project and InYourPower initiative the conditions for such interactions will be created and we will be able to reverse the trajectory of the HIV epidemic in the region and then finally end the AIDS epidemic once and for all. “

Alliance for Public Health, 100% Life, UNAIDS are launching campaign #InYourPower to end HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and my special message is to Mayors of cities. Particularly to Mayors because they are pragmatic managers who know their communities and fix things.

Mayors can take several important steps:

– sign Paris declaration confirming the city commitment and thus join group of Mayors who are global leaders in AIDS response;
– develop city HIV program with targets to provide prevention, identify vast majority of HIV cases and immediately link them to ARV treatment;
– allocate city resource to coordinate and support the program.

We have seen great progress in cities in the region that following Mayoral commitment have taken HIV/AIDS programs as their priority Fast-track TB/HIV responses for key populations in EECA cities.

HIV/AIDS — it’s not about Africa, as many people are still thinking. In Africa, there are less new HIV cases every year. At the same time, the number of new HIV cases in Eastern Europe and Central Asia countries as well as in Balkan countries are growing. This has to be somehow adressed.
Doctors, social workers, nurses, community organizations have done and are doing their job. But another component is important: state leadership. It’s not an abstract notion, it just means that everyone who found oneself at the driver’s seat has to drive and lead the way, since otherwise the catastrophe is inevitable.
In other words, everyone who found oneself at the official’s seat and who has the authority to make decisions should take them in favor of the people And in the area of HIV/AIDS, this means progressive legislation, allocation of funds for prevention and treatment, public procurement at competitive market prices, and other things that provide for saving lives.
Time is what really matters when it comes to tackling the HIV epidemic. Therefore, we are looking for leaders. Leaders who might change the situation in their countries. Not the day after tomorrow, not tomorrow, but right away.
We are looking for leaders who are ready to take a step forward in order to save their citizens.
Join the #InYourPower Campaing. Tell us about such leaders, nominate them for a prize. Let’s all together tell the world about the achievements and approaches that help to change the situation in our countries. Since it’s in power of everyone to stop the HIV epidemic. #InYourPower.