Ukraine

Latest Operational Update: July 2005

Improving care for people living with HIV/AIDS

During 2004 and the first part of 2005, MSF continued its HIV/AIDS project in southern Ukraine where the disease is particularly prevalent. With a number of activities in place aimed at improving care, support and increasing access to treatment, MSF is now preparing to hand over its activities to others.

MSF's HIV/AIDS project in Ukraine includes many aspects of care for people living with the virus. For example, in the cities of Odessa and Mikolaev, MSF provided almost 350 HIV-positive pregnant women with medicine to prevent transmission of the virus to their child during pregnancy and delivery in 2004. The staff also gave life-extending antiretroviral (ARV) treatment to 120 adults and 30 children and offered laboratory diagnostic support. MSF staff cared for more than 300 patients needing hospital-based care and more than 1,000 patients received treatment for HIV-related infections.

The team also conducted treatment adherence and psychosocial support programs for all of the project's patients and many other people living with HIV in the area. To help ensure continuance of quality care after MSF leaves the country, the team collaborated with the country's health ministry to train almost 1,500 health care staff on a wide range of topics related to HIV.

In addition to providing direct patient care, MSF supported the introduction of ARV treatment in Ukraine and lobbied the government to accelerate access to it. The team also participated in a national campaign aimed at raising awareness about the disease, empowering those who live with it and reducing the stigma surrounding them.

In late 2004, MSF began preparations to hand over its projects to the country's ministry of health and other NGOs. MSF plans to withdraw from Ukraine by the end of 2005.

MSF has worked in Ukraine since 1999.