Project description

Title: Reform of the Health System and Prevention of HIV/AIDS
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Ukraine
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Health, Ukraine
Overall term: November 2006 to October 2009

Context

Ukraine has one of the worst HIV epidemics in Europe, and in global terms, it is one of the countries in which the virus is spreading most quickly. HIV prevalence in the four western oblasts (administrative districts) of Ternopil, Czernowitz, Chmelnyzkyj and Winnyzja is currently lower than in most other oblasts. However, here too the growing incidence highlights the urgent need for measures to prevent HIV/AIDS and to provide care and support services for people living with HIV. Such measures can make a vital contribution to containing the epidemic, and ameliorating the individual and social consequences. The existing health care facilities, social services, educational institutions and regulatory authorities do not fulfil these requirements and are too uncoordinated for the fight against HIV/AIDS to be effective and efficient.

Objective

Key reforms for HIV prevention and for the care of people living with HIV have been implemented in the project area.

Approach

While HIV prevalence in the project area is still comparatively low, new infections are on the rise. The project therefore emphasises the prevention of HIV/AIDS and works with groups at higher risk of infection. These high-risk groups consist primarily of young people and drug addicts. The central methodological element is to initiate and advise significant authorities in the fight against HIV/AIDS, as well as service providers and relevant initiatives. An essential aspect of this is to set up networks with the specific aim of unifying the various activities. Components of support are consultancy, training and local subsidies for government and non-governmental organisations.

The implementation of this project is directly related to two other projects: Reform of the Health System and Prevention of HIV/AIDS, being implemented on behalf of BMZ, and the Promotion of German–Ukrainian Cooperation and Initiatives Between Government and Non-governmental Actors in the Field of HIV/AIDS, being implemented on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Health (BMG).