News
Media Tour to Global Fund Supported Projects in Russian Federation
In May 2006, WHCA coordinated the first ever Global Fund to Fight TB, AIDS and Malaria “media tour” to selected projects in Tomsk (Siberia) and Saratov (Volga River Area), in Russia. Joining the tour were health journalists from The Independent, The Lancet, The British Medical Journal, Die Zeit, Le Monde, TV2 Denmark & Hungary, Swedish Radio, Reuters, Associated Press and key Russian media.
This tour visited HIV/AIDS and TB projects funded by The Global Fund. Local organizers from Open Health Institute, Russian Health Care Foundation and Partners in Health coordinated site visits to national AIDS Centers and a variety of community-based projects, including needle exchange and outreach work with MSM, street children and commercial sex workers. A unique aspect of the tour included the first ever visits by Western media to prisons in Tomsk and Saratov, to see projects for the treatment of prisoners with HIV/AIDS and TB. The tour culminated in Moscow on 14-15 May, in the run-up to the 1st Eastern European and Central Asian AIDS Conference, 15-17 May 2006.
Feedback we have received:
“… thank you both for the awe-inspiring organisation of last week's tour in Russia. I had a fantastic week, learnt an enormous amount, and met many wonderful people. So thank you very much for putting it all together and for inviting me along.” (journalist)
“Just a note to thank you for a fantastic trip … it is often the case with trips of the kind you laid on that you fly half across the world only to attend a presentation or conference in some anonymous hotel that could have been held anywhere. In contrast your trip gave us masses of on the ground detail - the cases that make a story come alive. It was a mammoth feat of organisation for you - … but a memorable and invaluable experience for us.” (journalist)
“Having been accompanied by all the participants of the Global Fund Media Tour in Saratov, I must say that I was thoroughly impressed with your professionalism and desire to learn more about the HIV situation in Russia. I don't believe I have ever viewed a more efficient, smooth running, and professional work such as yours.” (local organiser)
“I am writing to thank you for the great job you did in organizing this media tour. Your timely updates and detailed information really helped a lot. Seems like the trip on the whole went really well. Would be great to work with you some time again.” (interpreter)
Some fabulous video and photo materials are available: contact Steve Turner for details (steve@turner-associates.org).
For more information on Media Tours contact WHCA’s Administrative Assistant, Carinne Allinson, at carinne@whcaonline.org.
Feedback we have received:
“… thank you both for the awe-inspiring organisation of last week's tour in Russia. I had a fantastic week, learnt an enormous amount, and met many wonderful people. So thank you very much for putting it all together and for inviting me along.” (journalist)
“Just a note to thank you for a fantastic trip … it is often the case with trips of the kind you laid on that you fly half across the world only to attend a presentation or conference in some anonymous hotel that could have been held anywhere. In contrast your trip gave us masses of on the ground detail - the cases that make a story come alive. It was a mammoth feat of organisation for you - … but a memorable and invaluable experience for us.” (journalist)
“Having been accompanied by all the participants of the Global Fund Media Tour in Saratov, I must say that I was thoroughly impressed with your professionalism and desire to learn more about the HIV situation in Russia. I don't believe I have ever viewed a more efficient, smooth running, and professional work such as yours.” (local organiser)
“I am writing to thank you for the great job you did in organizing this media tour. Your timely updates and detailed information really helped a lot. Seems like the trip on the whole went really well. Would be great to work with you some time again.” (interpreter)
Some fabulous video and photo materials are available: contact Steve Turner for details (steve@turner-associates.org).
For more information on Media Tours contact WHCA’s Administrative Assistant, Carinne Allinson, at carinne@whcaonline.org.