United Press International - October 12, 2005
Dmitry Budanov, UPI Senior News Analyst

This is a huge problem for the military (and not only the military) in many countries, and Russians and Americans found a great deal in common.

The fall drafting campaign is under way in Russia now. Over 140,000 young men will report to drafting stations to proceed to army units that are to become their home for two years. But, according to statistics, most drafting-age youths will find a way to stay out of the army, many of them because they will be found unfit for military service for health reasons.

This is a source of serious concern for the military. The Defense Ministry says that approximately 500,000 draft-age youngsters are screened out each year. Out of the 89 official exemptions, the ones cited most often are psychological disorders, disqualifying about 120,000 draftees each year. Skin, respiratory and digestive diseases are also common.

On the other hand, the spring draft showed a 1-2 percent health improvement among young people. Additionally, the number of drug-addicted draftees fell to 14,000 from 20,000 over the past few years, and that of HIV-infected, by one-third.

The Russian army sees prevention of drug addiction and HIV/AIDS as one of its paramount tasks. These two problems are closely related -- an overwhelming majority of AIDS victims become infected by sharing needles. However, cases of sexually transmitted infection are becoming increasingly common.

Lt. Gen. Igor Bykov, president of the International Committee on Military Medicine, and head of the Military Medical Directorate of the Defense Ministry, told the conference that the Russian army would now draw extensively on American experience in curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS. In practical terms it means making information available to servicemen, a job to be done by deputy commanders in charge of educational programs. They will conduct lectures and distribute handouts on how to avoid infection. Before going on leave, every soldier will be issued with a condom.

For the moment there are no other methods available to military doctors and education officers of fighting the disease. Under existing legislation only contract servicemen undergo mandatory screening for HIV. Yet the virus is brought into the army from the outside.

Since 1989 there have been only 2,067 registered cases of HIV among servicemen. Today only a small number of victims still serve. As a rule, they are officers who cannot be discharged by law.

Only in some parts of Russia, such as Moscow, Saratov, Samara or the Kaliningrad regions, local legislation allows HIV/AIDS tests among draftees. Alexander Goliusov, head of HIV/AIDS monitoring at the Federal Consumer Rights Service, says that in the past two years over 5,000 young people have been diagnosed HIV positive.

In addition to imperfect legislation, inadequate financing of HIV diagnosis is making it difficult to control the disease. Until 2002, laboratory equipment and re-agents for the regions were bought centrally by the Health Ministry. Later this practice was discontinued, and now regional heads have to procure funds independently, which add up to 350 to 400 million rubles ($14.02 million, or 11.63 million euros) annually throughout the country. The defense budget does not provide for HIV diagnosis expenditures either.

Neither Russian human rights activists nor HIV-sufferers approve of mandatory testing, which the Defense Ministry has been trying to introduce for a long time. Russian legislation codifies voluntary testing with the exception of certain categories of people. Human rights activists say that the moral and ethical aspects have to be given priority. Anonymity cannot be preserved if the diagnosis becomes known to the drafting commission.

Military doctors find these arguments unconvincing, and point out the specifics of military service.

First, approximately 90 percent of HIV-positive servicemen become infected as a consequence of drug addiction in civilian life. Clearly, the army will not become stronger as drug-dependent soldiers increase in numbers. Second, there is high risk of infection when treating an infected soldier on the battlefield. And third, many patients suffer from psychological trauma following diagnosis. Potentially, they may pose a threat to themselves and the society, especially if allowed to handle arms. So the idea of amending the military service law and imposing a ban on drafting those infected with HIV is gaining in popularity.

(Dmitry Budanov is a military commentator for the RIA Novosti news agency. This article is reprinted by permission fo RIA Novosti.)

(United Press International's "Outside View" commentaries are written by outside contributors who specialize in a variety of important issues. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of United Press International. In the interests of creating an open forum, original submissions are invited.)

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