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Harm Reduction In Ukrainian Red Cross

TO BE OR NOT TO BE:

8th Annual ERNA Meeting, Krakow, 2004

Background

Population (2004 est.):

- Growth rate- Life expectancy

47,732 m.-0,7%66,7

Economy:- Unemployment rate- GDP (2003 est.) - Minimum salary- Population below poverty line

9,1%8,2%38$30%

HIV/AIDS rates:-Officially registered HIV cases (2004 est.)- International experts data on HIV cases- Number of AIDS cases- Adult prevalence rate- Deaths

68,187

400,000

7,4651%4,450

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Scope of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Ukraine (as of June

1, 2004)

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Number of officially registered HIV-positive IDUs in different regions of

Ukraine (1994-2004)

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Situation related to Injecting Drug Use in

Ukraine- The highest rates of IDUs: Eastern, Southern Ukraine + Kyiv

City- 77, 267 officially registered IDUs (est. 2004)- According to expert assessment, rates are twice (thrice)

higher- Opiates & ephedrine -> the most widespread drug

substances- Adolescent drug usage – 11-13%- 44% of IDUs use services of different drug dealers- 29% of IDUs share needles- 19% of IDUs never use condoms- 38% of IDUs have casual sexual relations- 40% of IDUs get basic knowledge on HIV/AIDS

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HIV/AIDS & HR in Ukraine

1987 1997 2000 2004

The 1st officiall

y registered case of HIV-infectio

n

The 1st HR

project launched in Odesa for IDUs

and CSWs

15 Ukrainian NGOs, working in the sphere of HR

25 HIV-service

organizations

providing HR

strategy

8http://uhrn.civicua.org/en/nepmap.htm

HR Programs in Ukraine

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1. Efforts of the Ukrainian society are insufficient for effective counteraction of epidemic HIV/AIDS. The state strategies have a basically declarative character. Work of the non-profit structures is not provided by long-term state political and financial support and is possible only due to support of the international organizations.

2. The results of the scientific research in many countries and in Ukraine have confirmed Harm Reduction as an effective medical and social technology.

3. In addition to the Declaration of the Special session UNGASS Global crisis - we emphasize, that the most vulnerable groups are IDUs and their sexual partners, commercial sex workers and their clients, and also those in custody and prisoners in the State Department on Issues of Execution of Punishments.

4. Stigma, discrimination and denial undermine efforts on prevention, treatment and care, and existing social, cultural and economic factors interfere with the development of awareness and training to effective actions.

5. The NGOs expressing interest and basing their activities on community needs, vulnerable or mentioned by epidemic, must play a key role in granting outpatient care and other services necessary for successful prevention, care and support of PLWA.

Main Constraints For HR in Ukraine

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HRin

Ukraine

International agencies:

Open Society InstituteInternational Renaissance FoundationAIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW)UNAIDSUNDPBritish CouncilMSFInternational HIV/AIDS Alliance in

Ukraine

NGOs:

-‘Vera, Nadezhda, Lyubov’(Faith, Hope an Love) – Odesa-Charitable Anti-AIDS Foundation – Poltava- Association ‘Victoria’ – Khmelnitsky- NGO ‘Victoria Club’ – Pavlograd- NGO ‘Poryatunok’ (Salvation) – Kremenchuk-Charitable Foundation ‘Insight’ – Cherkasy- Charitable Foundation ‘Salus’ – Lviv- Charitable Foundation ‘Red ribbon’ – Kharkiv-Charity Fund ‘Unitus’ - Mykolayiv

Ukrainian Red Cross Society

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Place: Zaporizhzhya RC Branch

Project staff:-Project manager (RC Branch)- Specialists from AIDS Centres-25 volunteers: students of Psychology from Zaporizhzhya Humanitarian Institute-2 professional psychologists: Heads of Zaporizhzhya City districts

Project beneficiaries: -100 IDUs per month

Ukrainian Red Cross experience in HR

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•Arrangement of points of needle exchange:

-3 out of 7 City districts are covered with 10 points of needle exchange

-Wednesday/Friday afternoon-3-4 RC people -> point ->

transfer syringes & sanitary kits, gather used needles (containers) ->utilizing

•Psychological and social support

•Informational prevention

•Fundraising

Project activities:

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Project BudgetProject Budget(100 IDUs per month)(100 IDUs per month)

Donors Zaporizhzhya RC Branch

Syringes 5,0 1000 unitsHygiene packages 1000 unitsCondoms 1000 unitsLeaflets 100 Staff salaryVolunteers’ incentivesContainer for the used syringes

Premises rentUtilitiesTransport expensesDisinfectants Utilization of the used syringes. Information productsMass media campaign

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Constraints for URCS HR Programme

Late involvement into HR activities Is HR priority? Community indignation Low publicity of URCS HR activities Reduced attendance of the

stationary exchange points Lack of resources (financial and

human)

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Problems of HR Programme in Ukraine

“Favorable” legislationIllegal substantive therapy

No well-functioning CCMHigh level of stigma

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THANKS FOR

YOUR ATTENTION!