In the past 7 years, HIV prevalence in Russia, Eastern Europe & Central Asia has doubled, making the area home to the world's most rapidly expanding epidemic. Government response has been inadequate and most of the estimated 1.5 million people living with HIV don't have access to treatment.

In this region HIV is primarily transmitted through injecting drug use. Prevention initiatives, such as needle exchanges and harm reduction programmes are therefore desperately needed if the epidemic is to show any signs of abating.