On Friday, UN representatives have reported that Russia with the ex-Soviet bloc are stepping ahead for HIV prevention programs to stop the rapid spread of this deadly disease but stigma and domestic drug policies are blocking their way for further movement.

According to the United Nations, it was found out that around 90 percent of the new infected patients are found in region of Russia and Ukraine and this percentage includes women who are infected by sex partners who have been using same drug injections. They have also claimed that this deadly disease is spreading at a high rate in countries and provisions of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It has grown up to 1.4 million people in 2010.

UNAIDS Regional Director, Denis Broun says, ” When we are talking about prevention among drug users or men who have sex with men, we are talking about people who are not easy to reach, who are often stigmatized. To reach them with effective prevention there is a need to work with them, so their behaviors are better understood. This is what to a large extent is missing in the region."

Earlier this year, Russia's Health Minister, Tatiana Golikova told the reporters that there was no proof that methadone treatment was effective for this process and drug enforcement officials have claimed that it was more addictive than heroin and is banned for medical use in some parts of the world.