MOSCOW (AP) -- A top Russian anti-AIDS coordinator on Friday lambasted the government's approach to fighting HIV, saying the number of registered cases was growing 10 percent a year despite increased federal funding.

A misguided focus on treatment instead of prevention has undermined efforts to combat AIDS, said Vadim Pokrovsky, head of the state-funded Federal AIDS Center, which is charged with coordinating efforts.
''It seems to me that we still have no national policy on fighting AIDS,'' Pokrovsky said. ''We are running in place, and meanwhile HIV is spreading.''

Read more: www.kyivpost.com

Inadequate medicine, ineffective cooperation and low awareness exacerbate Ukraine's soaring infection rate

If there's anything worse than having AIDS, maybe it's having the disease in Ukraine. Discrimination, unstable supplies of critical medicine and poor awareness are still prevalent.

Maksym Nikolayenko would know. He is among those HIV-positive Ukrainians whose virus has progressed to AIDS. He is no longer afraid or silent. "I am tired of hiding it. I've realized if people keep silent, AIDS will choke all of us," Nikolayenko said.

Nikolayenko understands why other HIV/AIDS patients are still afraid and silent. He also doesn't recommend that all HIV-positive people speak out and reveal their status. "Discrimination is all over the country," Nikolayenko said. "And it's scary."

Read more: www.kyivpost.com

Weiterlesen auf dieser Website: The Situation

1. Introduction and Overview

Dear Mr. Minister, Dear Members of the National Council, Dear Colleagues,
On behalf of the Evaluation Team, it is with a sense of urgency that I present the final results of the Comprehensive External Evaluation of the National Response to AIDS.
Given the complexity of this evaluation - which is the most comprehensive evaluation of a national AIDS programme ever conducted - the process of drafting this report took longer than expected. With the support of 32 members of the Evaluation Team, we have worked for five months to compile the results of the evaluation into a consolidated report. We have synthesized the data from interviews with over 360 people in Ukraine, as well the results of research and summary reports for over 120 technical issues.
(...)

Final Results of Comprehensive External Evaluation of the National Response to AIDS (PDF, 160KB)

All Results: National Report On Monitoring Progress Towards The UNGASS Declaration (PDF, 2.7MB)

Following the successful observation of ward physician Dr. Kostantin Solodenko in August and September 2007 in the AVK a new visit was paid to Donetsk in July 2008.
During his observation in the AVK Dr. Solodenko had been instructed especially in performing and evaluating sonographic exams. Afterwards he shared his knowledge with his three colleagues from the ward for internal medicine of the Donetsk AIDS Centre.
The second assessment provided the possibility to discuss questions that arose in the context of ultrasound scans with two physicians and a health care staff member of the AVK. _The second visit focussed on discussing the next steps within the framework of the clinic partnership. It was determined that the constant exchange about diagnostic and nursing/care issue shall be the main focus. A telematics platform will be established in order to guarantee this exchange as soon as possible. Contents and technical requirements have been discussed in detail with the director of the AIDS Centre and the ward physicians of the AIDS ward.

Weiterlesen auf dieser Website: Why a Clinic Partnership?

more info ...

Weiterlesen auf dieser Website: Observation in 2007 for Further Training in Diagnostics and Treatment.

Auf dem Festival laufern beide Filme:
SO WOLLEN WIR NICHT STERBEN. AIDS IN ODESSA
und
Am Rande - Sechs Kapitel über AIDS in der Ukraine

Christoph Weber's visit report describes this assessment from his medical perspective. Apart from an introduction into the situation of the HIV epidemic in Ukraine and in Donetsk, this report describes the medical care structure for HIV in the oblast and the city of Donetsk, with a focus on a portrayal of the AIDS ward and the AIDS Centre Donetsk. In addition to that, he also describes the care infrastructure for tuberculosis patients and the very limited options for substitution therapy for injecting drug users.

Visit Report Donetsk, Ukraine - July 2007 (PDF, 170 kb)

Ukraine has the highest per capita prevalence of HIV infection within Europe 1.4%. This poses a serious threat to the region's social and economic stability. Ukraine is geographically the largest country in Europe, apart from the Russian Federation. Economic growth year on year started in 2000, following a decade of recession during "transition" after the collapse of the Soviet Union (1989) and Ukrainian independence (1991). At current rates of growth, pre-transition levels of prosperity will not be reached until 2016.

Weiterlesen auf dieser Website: Impact of transition on public health in Ukraine