News

Almost 100 researchers from Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) have received mentorship and expert support through the mentorship program that was established by AFEW International together with Amsterdam Youth Force and Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA). Applicants for XXII International AIDS Conference 2018 have received support with editing, translating, and structuring their work according to the abstract requirements.

In addition to a strong abstract-driven programme, the 22nd International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2018) will offer symposia, workshops and interactive sessions developed by an international committee of HIV scientists, global leaders, policy makers, researchers and advocates. Here is a first glimpse of what you can expect in Amsterdam, which you can also browse in our preview of the conference programme. See an overview of the early programme preview below.

With this letter, we – undersigned civil society organizations – call on you to reconsider the position of Prof. Michel Kazatchkine as your Special Envoy on HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA). Michel Kazatchkine was recently announced to serve as special advisor to UNAIDS for HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis C by the UNAIDS executive director Michel Sidibe.

It has been a year since the project Fast-track HIV/TB responses among key populations in cities of Eastern Europe and Central Asia (HIV/TB CITIES) has been operating in Almaty, Balti, Odesa, Sofia, and Tbilisi. Different countries, contexts, mentalities and different… results. Roman Dudnik, Executive Director of the Public Foundation AIDS Foundation East-West in Kazakhstan is telling about the project implementation in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Over 250 thousand HIV tests will be done in Kyiv allowing to cover 10% of the employable population of the Ukrainian capital. Nikolay Povoroznik, the Deputy Head of Kyiv City State Administration, informed UNIAN Information Agency that in order to reach these numbers, city authorities will additionally procure 140 thousand express tests. HIV testing is the first step towards overcoming the epidemic because information about one’s positive status allows the timely start of treatment for the patient.

Several more cities in Tajikistan – Dushanbe, Kulob and Khujand – opened their first voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) points in three civil society organisations – Vita, SVON Plus and Amali Nek. Opening the VCT points, training the medical staff, renovating the premises and procuring the necessary furniture and equipment became possible thanks to the Bridging the Gaps: Health and Rights for Key Populations project and consultations with the AFEW-Tajikistan specialists.