Kyiv, Ukraine. 30 November 2007 - Special Envoy of UN Secretary-General for HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe Lars Kallings visit Ukraine in the threshold of the World AIDS Day. During the media briefing, he emphasized that the AIDS epidemic in Ukraine is now the most severe epidemic of any country in Europe.
"20 years since the AIDS epidemic started in Ukraine, the global epidemic is showing signs of leveling off, but the epidemic in Ukraine continues to deteriorate," warned Professor Lars Kallings, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe. According to Professor Kallings, "Ukraine now has the most severe AIDS epidemic in Europe. If the spread of HIV is not reversed in the next three years, I fear that Ukraine will develop the first generalized AIDS epidemic in Europe."
In the first ten months of 2007, there were 14,480 new cases of HIV infection officially registered among citizens of Ukraine - equivalent to 48 new cases per day, up from 43 cases per day in 2006. According to national estimates, there are over 377,600 people with HIV in Ukraine, but only 119,000 cases have been officially registered. This indicates that less than one-third of all infected people in Ukraine are even aware of their HIV status.
At the United Nations High Level Meeting on AIDS in June 2006, Ukraine committed to "pursuing all necessary efforts to scale up...towards the goal of universal access to comprehensive prevention programmes, treatment, care and support by 2010." "More than a year after this historic meeting, Ukraine is at risk of missing a majority of the targets it adopted for Universal Access by 2010," stated Dr. Gundo Weiler, Chair of United Nations Theme Group on HIV/AIDS in Ukraine.
HIV transmission among injecting drug users (IDUs) and other vulnerable people is still driving the HIV epidemic in Ukraine. By mid 2007, less than 30% of injecting drug users were reached with harm reduction programmes. An impact on the epidemic is only expected when over 60%, or at least 190,000 of all injecting drug users are reached with harm reduction or other HIV prevention programmes. Injecting drug use is also a contributing factor to HIV transmission in prisons. Over 5000 inmates are infected with HIV, but only a few prisons are taking effective actions. Children and young people living on the street remain among the most underserved populations: the majority are using drugs and many are involved in sex trade. HIV prevalence among victims of human trafficking from Ukraine is now almost twice as high as the national average.
The rapid increase in heterosexual transmission of HIV raises concerns that the epidemic will "bridge" into the general population. In the last 12 months, heterosexual transmission of HIV has increased by 20%. The number of HIV-positive women giving birth continues to increase. Efforts need to be intensified to lower the rate of transmission from mother to child.
Focus on primary prevention of HIV among the general population is of paramount importance for a successful response to AIDS. Efforts should be strengthened to reach every woman, every man, and every young person with general prevention information and behavior changing techniques, including HIV prevention programmes in the workplace.
The number of people receiving life-saving antiretroviral treatment (ART) in Ukraine has increased by more than 2000 to over 7000. But the gap between treatment needs and the demand for ART is widening: by 2010, an estimated 50,000 people will need ART in Ukraine, or face death from AIDS.
Treatment for HIV needs to be coupled with treatment for associated conditions, such as TB or drug dependence. Substitution treatment is the most effective way to reduce illicit drug use among drug injectors. The UN estimates that at least 60,000 IDUs in Ukraine could benefit from this proven treatment. Currently less than 600 IDUs are enrolled in substitution treatment in Ukraine.
"Despite extensive public announcements by senior political leaders in Ukraine, consistent leadership on AIDS is still lacking. There is an urgent need to strengthen the management capacity on AIDS of the Government of Ukraine, both at the national and regional levels" stated Dr. Anna Shakarishvili, Head of UN Joint Team on HIV/AIDS. The national body to coordinate the national AIDS response in Ukraine - the National Council on AIDS and TB - is still not fully functional.
The UN welcomes the Government's decision to initiate the development of a new National State Programme on AIDS for 2009-2013. The Programme should be endorsed by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and needs to set measurable targets and have a clear mechanism for the disbursement of budget allocations.
The UN System in Ukraine reaffirms its commitment to provide technical support to strengthen the capacity of the Ukrainian Government, employers, trade unions, business and civil society organizations in the national response to AIDS.
Panel members at the Press Conference includes:
o Professor Lars Kallings, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe
o Bertil Lindblad, Director, UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Europe
o Dr. Gundo Weiler, Head of UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS
o Dr. Anna Shakarishvili, Head of UN Joint Team on HIV/AIDS
o Dr. Borys Vornyk, UNFPA Assistant Representative in Ukraine
o Ms. Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecka, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative
o Mr. Vasyl Kostrytsya, ILO National Correspondent in Ukraine
o Dr. Igor Oliynik, Consultant Health Programmes, Human Development Sector World Bank in Ukraine
o Mr. Jeremy Hartley, UNICEF Representative in Ukraine
o Dr. Zaza Tsereteli, UNODC Regional HIV/AIDS Advisor, Ukraine and Moldova
o Dr. Vasil Gajdadziev, MHD Programme Manager, IOM in Ukraine
For more information, please contact: Anya Asseva, UNAIDS; Tel: 8-050-351-6897; Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
The slogan of the World AIDS Campaign 2007 is
"Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise"
30.11.07
