The epidemic of HIV infection has been developing in the territory of Irkutsk Oblast for almost 20 years. The first case was officially registered in 1991. According to the data collected by Irkutsk Oblast Center for AIDS and Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control, as of 01.07.2010, there were more than 30 thousand PLWHA. The majority of newly registered cases of HIV infection are young people above 30 y.o. Although half of the cases of HIV infection are, practically, due to the injecting drug use, the sexual mode of transmission has been predominant in recent times. So, by the end of 2009, the sexual mode of transmission was 59,3% out of all of the cases, and for 6 months of 2010, it has been 70%. Sex workers also add to this number.
             This number tells us that it is urgent to implement well-timed and adequate programs on HIV prevention among injecting drug users and sex workers. At the meeting that is to take place on September 28th, we will try to show how important it is to implement prevention programs among hard-to-reach target audience, show how effective they are, using real numbers, and also discuss possible ways of collaboration to improve their quality. Such programs have been delivered since 2002 in Irkutsk Oblast and have proved to be effective for several times. More than 2 thousand representatives of the target audience have benefited their services only for 8 months. More than 300 thousand condoms and 40 thousand lubricants have been distributed.
              However, there are a few problems, the most striking being:
• The absence of a unified algorithm of work between governmental and non- governmental organizations
• The office has been moved very often
• The absence of a guaranteed financial source to implement programs in the future.

Thus, if you want to know about the program results, main achievements, and planned perspectives in detail, come to the working meeting on September 28th at 11 a.m. , the conference room of the Ministry of Social Development, Guardianship and Custody at the address: 5th floor, 2, Kanadzava str., Irkutsk, Russia.