Introduction
Russia is a country located in northern part of Eurasia. This country is the largest country on earth considering the land area. Formerly known as USSR, Russia is made up of 83 federal subjects. The country is one of the richest in the world. According to DaVanzo and Grammich (2001), Russia has the largest mineral reserves in the world. The country also has the largest forest cover in the world, and the largest fresh water lake.
This makes the country very significant in the world history. Given this big size of the country, it has had a number of issues in regard to health of its population. Although the government has made great effort to look into health issues, reports indicate that the country stiff has a number of issues of health to address. This research focuses on these health concerns that this country faces.
Analysis of the Country
Historical Issues
This country has a rich history that spans several years back. East Slavic state, which was the first state to be established in this country, was developed in the 9th century. The state developed, but did not manage to rise over other existing nations in the regions. In 1721, Russia became an empire under the leadership of Peter the Great. Following the Russian revolution in the early 19th century, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) was formed in December 30, 1922. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republic was a very strong nation that emerged as one of the superpowers following the Second World War. Unfortunately, USSR broke, leaving Russia as the strongest and largest country in 1991.
Economic Issues
The economy of this country is very strong. The country’s economy is considered eighth largest in the world by GDP. As stated above, this country has the largest mineral deposits in the world. Generally, the Russians are living above the poverty line, with their infrastructure well developed. The growth of the economy and the living standards has both been on the rise. This country is a member of various economic organizations in the world and in Europe.
Social Issues
From the social perspective, Russia is one of the countries with unique national heritage which is rare in Europe. There are communities in this country that have maintained their national heritage such as beliefs towards given environmental factors and religion. Although the country was the force behind communism, the country has since embraced capitalism that it once opposed vehemently. The country has semi-presidential system, with the president being elected through democratic elections. The country respects human rights and freedom as entrenched in the international human rights commission.
Technological Issues
Russia is one of the leading states in terms of technology. Technological developments of this country emerged after the Second World War, during the cold war. There was a massive competition between the USSR and the United States over supremacy in technology. While the United States focused on technological development in various sectors, USSR focused on technological development in the field of weaponry. Russia currently has the largest stockpile of weapons of mass destruction. It also has advanced technologies in other sectors of economy including the health sector.
Geographical and Climate Issues of the Russia
Russia has a large land mass with almost eight different time zones. This makes the country experience different climatic condition in different cities. The country generally experiences humid continental climate, except the tundra region and the extreme Southeast. However, a section of the country bordering the Indian Ocean experiences warm air from the ocean. The Northern region experiences extremely cold temperatures, especially at the poles which have below 71.2 degrees centigrade. The regions around Arctic Islands experience polar climate.
Health Status and Healthcare System in Russia
According to Rivkin-Fish (2005), Russia was once ranked as a country with the highest number of hospitals, physicians, and health workers than any country in the world. This figure has been dropping within the last two decades, especially following the fall of the Union. There are a number of diseases that have claimed lives of many Russians in the last one decade. The leading killer disease in this country is cardiovascular disease which accounts for about 60 percent of deaths in this country. Other diseases include cancer, tuberculosis, digestive and respiratory diseases. HIV/AIDs are fast becoming one of the greatest health concerns in this country. Almost unheard of in this country when the country was part of the union, almost one million Russians are currently living with HIV/AIDs.
Relationship between Russia and the World
Abstract
Russia has had both cordial and tensed relationship with its neighbors. This is partially so due to the policy it adopted of communism that divided the world into two main blocks. The stockpile of arms at its disposal has also caused a lot of tension between it and various nations around the world. The need to be seen as a world power is also creating tensions between Russia other world powers.
Russia and its Neighbors
Russia has had conflicts with its neighbors for a long time. The relationship between Russia and Georgia, which was seen as the country that led the revolution resulting into the fall of USSR, has been tense. Although the two have not engaged in war, Russia has considered Georgia as a state that was used by the United States to bring down the powerful USSR. It has however, had a relatively warm relationship with countries like Poland among other neighbors.
Russia and the World
On the international scale, Russia has been considered as either a friend or foe depending on the inclination that the country has towards the idealisms taken by the USSR. The United States remains the country which has had a tense relationship with this country. The cold war era saw the two countries amass weapons of mass destruction ready to attack each other at the slightest provocation. However, it has had a very cordial relationship with other states that adopted communism such as Cuba and China.
Demographic Data
Ethnic Composition
According to Hardt (2003), Russian federation is a home for many ethnic groups. The country hosts about 160 different ethnic groups. The Russians constitutes about 81% of the total population. This ethnic group is believed to have its origin from the east Slavic tribes. Russians are generally light Skinned with light eyes and hair. The other ethnic groups include the Tatars with 3.9% 0f the total population who are believed to have its origin from the Gobi regions in the 5th century, the Ukrainians with 2.0%, Bashkirs 1.1%, Chuvash 1.0%, and other ethnic groups constituting about 12% of the total population.
Religious Groupings
The most common and widespread religion that carries the largest population of Russia is the Eastern Orthodox Christianity.73% of Russian entire population is believed to be Orthodoxy, 6% 0f the population is Muslim, 1% of the population falls in other faiths and the remaining population comprise the non-religious group. Because of the culture of this society, all the non-religious groupings are associated with the orthodox faith.
It is believed out of the whole population of Russia, close to 16% practice fasting in the period of lent. Christianity branches in Russia include the Roman Catholicism, Baptist, Lutherans, Pentecostals and other protestant organizations. In Russia, there is Judaism, Buddhism, and Krishnaism among others (Rivkin-Fish, 2005). According to Lovett-Scott and Prather (2014), 9.9% of the population of Russia, comprise the ethnic groups that traditionally observed Islamic religion.
Cultural Characteristics
According to Manning and Tikhonova (2009), Russian culture historically is rich. Their culture is demonstrated in various aspects of life including their feeding habits, arts, traditions, attitudes and many others. A large part of the Russian population uses the Russian language as the official and only language. The Russians observe their traditional folk music including the traditional dances and have a unified formal way of greeting different people depending on the level of their relationship.
Researches show that most of the Russian families are small with one or two children. Their favorite foods of Russians include potatoes, carrots, cabbages, meat, and beets among others, although during lent period, Russians observe fasting forbidding consumption of foods like meat, eggs, and butter. Worldwide, the Russian’s literature is among the best in the world. Their literature is well known for its developed and influential nature. Russians believe in collective spirit and working in groups an aspect is observed to date. Russians also have a way in which they do name their children, and they so much value gift giving and dining, business and dressing etiquettes. Russians also practice architecture. Due to its rich culture, Russia attracts many tourists across the world.
Education Levels
Education system in Russia is comprehensively developed. In Russia, education is regulated and controlled by the ministry of education and science. This state has more than 50 universities and over 700 institutions of higher learning. Almost everyone in Russia is educated. Currently, the literacy level in Russia is 99.4% with 99.7% of being men and 99.2% women. The World Bank 2008 statistics should that over 54% of the workers in Russia at least a college or tertiary level of education. Russia has the highest number of population attaining education to college level.47.7% of Russians have completed secondary education.
Health Statistics
The status of health in this country has been on a decline since 1991 when the Soviet Union officially brought to an end (Rivkin-Fish, 2005). Many cases have since then been reported concerning the rise of diseases like cancer, HIV/AIDs, tuberculosis, heart attack and many alcoholic related diseases. According to Manning and Tikhonova (2009), over the last decade, Russian’s life expectancy has reduced from 70 years to about 65 years.
Men form the largest part of the population that is at risk. They live 13 years less compared to their female counterparts. Infant mortality is also considerably to be much higher than most of the other industrialized countries around the world. In 2006 cases, 15.1 per every 1,000 of Russian population were reported. Towards the close of 2005, the number of registered cases of HIV/AIDs was about 350,000 in Russia, with the highest level experienced in the year 2001 (Rivkin-Fish, 2005). In spite of its poor health status, Russia has shined in the fields of medicine including heart and laser eye surgery.
Population Affected
Generally poor health status in Russia affects almost every one and especially the poor and women in the society.Depending on the disease, the vulnerability of the any given population vary, for example, the Russian men are more susceptible to Tuberculosis compared to their female counterparts. However, statistics has it that more women than men are infected with HIV/AIDs. The table below presents this.
The above statistics shows that prostitutes have the highest risk of getting infected by HIV. This is because of the nature of their profession. The second most affected population is those who abuse alcohol the then prisoners.
Problem Identification
Major Health Concern
Globally health is a major issue. In Russia as mentioned earlier, health status is highly on decline.Alcoholism and drug abuse in Russia is high. These drugs are mainly taken into the body through injections. The major health concern in Russia is HIV/AIDs. This is tragedy among the Russians has greatly contributed to the low status of health in Russia. It is believed that about 1.2 million people in Russia are HIV-positive.
In 2008 alone, according to Russian Federal AIDS Centre, 471,676 cases were reported. By November the year 2012 the figure had raised to 703,781.This condition has stigmatized many in this nation. The rationale for choosing this particular health concern is because of its effect in the social welfare of the infected person and the family. HIV/AIDS is not one of the leading causes of death. However, to those who get infected of HIV in this country, the effect is always big and devastating. It is for this reason that the researcher focused on this issue.
Economic and Social Impact of HIV/AIDs
According to Hardt (2003), Russia is the fastest growing state in HIV/AIDs with its new cases doubling after every twelve months. The devastating impacts of this health problem in Russia have greatly been felt. HIV/AIDs have led to many suffering and deaths in Russia. Since the prevalence of the disease is common among the youngsters, upon their death the country is rendered poor economically by losing the human resource and economic potential in these youths. Their deaths also reduce the taxable population in Russia lowering the economic power of the nation. The world health organization reports that there is a link between a reduced life expectancy and the decrease of gross national product. This health issue has directly slowed down the economic growth rate of Russia reducing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita.
Scope of the Problem
Of the 143 million Russians, about one million people are infected with HIV. This means that the population affected is less than one percent. This may be seen as a negligible percentage, but the impact it has on the infected, his or her family and friends, and medical officers expands the scope of this problem significantly.
Historical Development of HIV/AIDs
Historically, HIV found its way to Russia from the discovery of man in Africa who was infected. This man transmitted the virus to 15 soviet soldiers who later spread the disease to the rest of the world. In Russia, no privacy laws existed before and therefore the list of these 15 men was published and the infection was made open to the public. In the 1980’s, mandatory tests were instituted within the Soviet Union, where positive results were seriously dealt with. This time safe sex did not exist and drug abuse rate was high. There was also poor networking of nations and poor information flow after the Soviet Union broke. These Factors provided a fertile ground for HIV transmission in Russia and worldwide. Today HIV/AIDs remain a growing problem in Russia.
World Wide Disparity of the Problem
HIV/AIDS is a global problem. The issue of this disease is a major health concern in many nations today. Cases in many nations on HIV have been on rise since the discovery of the virus. Most of the developing countries have greatly been affected. This is due to social economic impacts that come along with the infection of the HIV virus. Nations are crying due to the daily increased mortality rate reported. Solutions to this tragedy are sourced aggressively by many nations worldwide. No matter the combined efforts by nations to find the cure to problem, their efforts are in vain because the disease has no cure. HIV/AIDs remain a global monster.
Effects of Globalization and Technology on HIV/AIDs
Globalization and technology has had impacts on HIV/AIDs. The travelers who come to visit Russia due to globalization have been reported to be part of those who infect commercial sex workers in this country. However, technological inventions have helped come up with various drugs such as antiretroviral drugs to help minimize growth of the virus in the body.
Effects of HIV/AIDs if Left Unchecked
There is a serious need for the Russian government to address this HIV/AIDs problem urgently and systematically. This is because the pandemic is claiming the deaths of many people each day. The economy status of Russia is of concern and its growth can only be realized by addressing the HIV/AIDs issue in the state. If not checked, the state of Russia will continue facing the serious social and economic crisis that come because of HIV/AIDs infection within the country. If the problem is not confronted, the transmission rate of the disease will continue increasing and the Russian economy will continue to deteriorate.
International Healthcare Organization Involved in the Delivery of Healthcare in Russia
The fight against HIV/AIDs in Russia calls for international aid. The Russian government has spent billions on finding a solution to this crisis but their efforts alone is not enough. The HIV/AIDs condition in Russia has drawn attention from many international organizations. Among these international organizations includes the world health organization and World Bank is also making great efforts in helping this nation overcome this crisis. The country through donations and other relevant assistance from these international healthcare organizations has been able to hold and offer trainings on HIV/AIDs, offer counselling to the affected people and also provide some medical care to the victims.
Summary and Conclusion
Russia has one of the fastest developing economies in the world. With vast mineral resources and a wide population, this country can experience massive economic development. However, various health issues have affected this growth. HIV/AIDs infection has massively affected this nation. The impact of HIV/AIDs to the victim and the family and friends is massive. The country is also forced to increase its expenditure trying to take care of the victims impeding its development.
References
DaVanzo, J., & Grammich, C. (2001). Dire demographics: Population trends in the Russian Federation. Santa Monica: Rand.
Hardt, J. P. (2003). Russia’s uncertain economic future. Armonk: M.E. Sharpe.
Lovett-Scott, M., & Prather, F. (2014). Global health systems: Comparing strategies for delivering health services. Burlington: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Manning, N. P., & Tikhonova, N. E. (2009). Health and health care in the new Russia. Farnham: Ashgate.
Rivkin-Fish, M. R. (2005). Women’s health in post-Soviet Russia: The politics of intervention. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.