AFEW: For journalists >> Joint Response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ukraine

Joint Response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ukraine

AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW), in collaboration with international and Ukrainian agencies, announces a press conference devoted to World AIDS Day 2002. The press conference will be held in Kyiv on 29 November 2002, and is entitled:

'Joint Response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ukraine'

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the International Renaissance Foundation (IRF), the Ukrainian Harm Reduction Association, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, the Ukrainian Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), and AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW), - participants of the press conference - strongly believe that unifying the efforts of state and non-governmental agencies is crucial for combating HIV/AIDS and AIDS-related discrimination and stigma in Ukraine. This broad alliance of organisations will talk about their experiences, explain the challenges they face, and outline their unified strategy to respond to the epidemic.
Ukraine is recognised as the hardest hit European country in terms of HIV/AIDS. As of 1 September 2002, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine reports that there are 49,873 officially registered cases of HIV-infection among Ukrainian citizens. According to UNAIDS and WHO estimates, the actual number of PLWHA in Ukraine is seven (7) to 10 times higher, and totals nearly half a million persons, or 1% of the total population. The primary route of transmission remains injecting drug use. However, in the recent years, the proportion of cases representing heterosexual and mother-to-child (vertical) transmission has significantly increased, indicating a new stage of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ukraine.

This press conference will be held in observance of World AIDS Day, which is 1 December and was designated in 1988 by the United Nations General Assembly in the response to the AIDS pandemic. On this day each year, the global community expresses their solidarity with PLWHA, and unites to declare their support for joint efforts aimed at fighting AIDS.

Location of the press conference: Ukrainian Journalist Union, Information Press Centre; Kyiv, 27 A, Kreschatyk str., 2nd floor, Assembly Hall

Time of the press conference: 12:00, 29 November 2002

Registration and coffee: 11:30

Contact person: Yury Sarankov, Head of Mission, AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW), Kyiv, Ukraine. tel.: (044) 220-45-17, e-mail: yury_sarankov@afew.org