World Health Organisation (WHO) headquarters requested a study tour to Ukraine for representatives of Ministry of Health, WHO and civil society of Pakistan to learn about HIV prevention, diagnosis and treatment services for people most at risk of HIV. WHO sees this as an excellent opportunity to show case Ukraine achievements and provide much needed assistance to other countries struggling with similar epidemics.
Dr Marthe Everard, WHO Representative and Head of WHO Country Office Ukraine is saying: ‘WHO congratulates Ukraine for its efforts in responding to one of the largest HIV epidemics in the European region. We recognize the critical role of civil society organizations in reaching those key populations most at risk of and affected by HIV. We are delighted to facilitate and support the sharing of the Ukrainian experience in delivering evidenced-based HIV prevention, testing and treatment services with countries in other regions such as Pakistan’.
The tour is being received in Ukraine 11-14 December, 2017, in Kyiv. During the visit Alliance for Public Health, PLHA Network and other NGOs, Centre of Public Health of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, AIDS and Narcology hospitals are visited and their experience shared with Pakistani specialists.
Special focus of the study tour is the technology to increase access to HIV treatment for people most at risk which is a global challenge. This technology was developed by Ukraine civil society organisations under the leadership of Alliance for Public Health and received international recognition. It is based on case management approach focusing on individual client’s treatment path. Alliance shared this learning during multiple international dialogues as well as supported introduction of these approaches in Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and Kenya.
‘Current HIV treatment coverage in Pakistan is 7% and we are struggling to increase it, – says Dr Safdar Kamal Pasha of WHO Pakistan while in Kyiv. – It is really exciting what Ukrainians did to link people with HIV to care. We very much appreciate exchange with colleagues and will adapt this technology in Pakistan. Look forward to continuous collaboration’.