I breathe! Cystic fibrosis is the most common hereditary disease in the world. According to official data of the Ministry of Health there are more than 2180 people with cystic fibrosis in Russia today, but the actual figures may be several times higher.
The Public Healthcare system does not provide the necessary support to patients with cystic fibrosis, and their life expectancy is 50% less than in developed countries. Social adaptation is a serious problem for adolescents and adults, and the public attitude towards such patients is often inadequate. The reason for this attitude is poor public awareness. The patients fail to receive social, medical and other assistance.
The Charitable Foundation «Ostrova» has been helping patients with cystic fibrosis in St. Petersburg for the past few years. The charitable programme «I breathe!» is aimed at a systemic and long-term improvement of lives of people with cystic fibrosis in Russia. The partners of the programme are CAF Russia, a professional charitable programmes manager with vast experience in the Russian non-profit sector, and Interregional public organization «Help for Patients with Cystic Fibrosis».
The programme aims to draw attention to the problem of cystic fibrosis, to improve the quality and increase the quantity of medical services and state social guarantees for the patients with cystic fibrosis. | 
