“Playing With Statistical Data”
A statement from the HIV/AIDS Joint United Nations Program notes that media coverage sometimes reinterprets figures from diverse sources in ways that can appear biased or arbitrary, according to a communication from Russia’s Ministry of Health.
The report notes that UNAIDS data suggesting Russia is among the top five countries for HIV spread have been contested by media and described as propaganda that misrepresents the situation in the country. The ministry stressed that these data alone cannot measure the full scope of HIV spread in Russia. It highlighted that HIV testing coverage is among the highest globally, reaching almost 30 percent of the population. In comparison with 2000, testing coverage nearly doubled, rising from 24 million to 42 million tests in 2021, based on official figures.
The ministry indicated that this broad testing helps obtain objective data, identify patients early, and begin treatment promptly. It also noted a rise in the share of patients receiving antiretroviral therapy, reaching more than 84 percent by the end of 2021. The ministry affirmed that continued preventive and therapeutic actions can extend life expectancy and reduce transmission risk. The incidence of HIV in Russia shows a steady decline, with a 2.0 percent rate drop from 2020 to 2021.
According to the ministry’s data, the overall incidence from 2018 to 2021 decreased by 31.4 percent, moving from 58.6 to 40.2 cases per 100,000 people. The 2021 report estimated 851,754 people living with HIV in Russia, representing roughly 0.58 percent of the population. All morbidity and mortality statistics for HIV are officially published by Rosstat, the Ministry of Health, and Rospotrebnadzor, ensuring public access to verified information. While these achievements are acknowledged, the ministry warned that attempts to falsify statistical data on HIV persist in the country. It also pointed out that Russia’s disease control program is funded from the federal budget, contrasting with some other nations that rely more on UNAIDS grants.
Another note from the ministry described ongoing efforts as essential benefits to public health, emphasizing that the fight against HIV is sustained by consistent funding and policy measures that support surveillance and treatment access.
Ahead of Uganda and Tanzania
Recent comments from UNAIDS and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) indicate that by the end of 2021 Russia ranked fifth globally in the rate of new HIV infections. The organizations suggest Russia has surpassed Tanzania and Uganda in this metric. In 2021, approximately 1.5 million people in Russia were living with HIV, with roughly half of all new infections concentrated in ten countries globally.
Across the continent, South Africa led with about 14 percent of detected HIV cases, followed by Mozambique at 6.5 percent, Nigeria at 4.9 percent, and India at 4.2 percent. Russia accounted for about 3.9 percent of detected infections in that year. UNAIDS noted that while new infections in 2000 were around 2.9 million globally, new cases have since declined significantly, even as the number of people living with HIV worldwide rose from roughly 26 million to over 38 million. The root cause cited for this shift is improved treatment enabling longer life expectancy for those living with the virus.
In 2021, regional differences within the WHO European Region appeared stark. The highest new infection rates per 100,000 were observed in the Russian Federation at 40.2, followed by Ukraine at 37.1, Moldova at 25.9, Kazakhstan at 18.7, Cyprus at 16.5, Belarus at 15.6, and Armenia at 15.2. The report also notes that Russia’s 40.2 per 100,000 rate aligns with figures later reported by the country’s health authorities. It adds that new HIV infections in Russia constituted 55 percent of all cases in the WHO European Region and 70 percent of cases reported in eastern Europe, underscoring the importance of robust testing, prevention, and treatment programs to address regional disparities and improve outcomes for people living with HIV.