On December 11, 2024, the Alliance for Public Health (Ukraine), Aidsfonds, and Friends of the Global Fund Europe launched the policy report “The EU’s Levers to End HIV/AIDS in Ukraine.” The online event, hosted by MEP Vytenis Andriukaitis, concluded a multistakeholder dialogue addressing Ukraine’s HIV/AIDS epidemic and the EU’s critical role in the response.

MEP Vytenis Andriukaitis: “Ukraine demonstrates remarkable efforts and resilience to sustain the AIDS response. The EU can strengthen its role in ensuring these efforts continue. The policy brief launched today provides clear recommendations for leveraging the EU financial instruments, including in the context of the next Multiannual Financial Framework, and leveraging accessing talks, to bolster Ukraine’s progress toward ending HIV/AIDS. As one of the coordinators of SANT, I am ready to be your advocate, and I am looking forward to continuing cooperation and turning all recommendations into action.”

Ukraine’s efforts in tackling HIV/AIDS amidst the war were praised by René Steiner, Delegation of the EU to Ukraine, who stated, “Ukraine teaches us all how even with little means, you can make the best out of it.”

Oleh Khavroniuk, Mission of Ukraine to the EU, highlighted the importance of engaging with the EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, underlining the importance of integrating Ukraine’s expertise and lessons learnt practices into the EU’s health emergency preparedness and response framework.

The policy report outlines key recommendations for the EU’s future Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the accession process, and the Ukraine Facility.

Notably, the event brought together Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), representatives from the European Commission’s Delegation to Ukraine, the Mission of Ukraine to the EU, Poland’s National AIDS Centre, Ukraine’s Ministry of Health Public Health Center, ECECACD, as well as global health organisations such as the Global Fund, and European and Ukrainian CSOs.

Read the download:

Policy Brief

Report

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presentations: Current status of the HIV/AIDS response in Ukraine / Policy Brief: Recommendations

Addition materials: 

If you have any questions or are interested in further collaboration around the Policy Brief, please do not hesitate to reach out to us:
Inna Gavrylova, Alliance for Public Health, gavrylova@aph.org.ua

Background on organisers

Alliance for Public Health : Since the early days of the war, Alliance for Public Health has worked together with other civil society and community organizations, healthcare facilities, the Ministry of Health, the Public Health Center, and other government organizations to support people and keep the HIV and TB epidemics under control. And with joint efforts, we have succeeded! During one year of the war, 4 times more people have become Alliance beneficiaries than in previous years – over 1 million Ukrainians! Due to our cooperation with donors and partners, Alliance has delivered and handed over 2,000 tons of humanitarian and medical cargoes to more than 200 healthcare facilities throughout Ukraine, including in the liberated areas of Kherson, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv oblasts. Alliance for Public Health works in the countries of the European region, supporting and sharing best practices in the response to HIV/AIDS.

Aidsfonds : Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Aidsfonds set up the Emergency Support Fund for Ukraine and Neighboring Countries with the aim of ensuring uninterrupted services and safety for people living with and vulnerable to HIV. The fund provides short-term small grants and mid-term support for community-led and community-based organisations in Ukraine and EECA countries. So far, it has provided 64 grants to support 33 community-led organisations.

Friends of the Global Fund Europe : As an advocacy organisation, Friends Europe has been focusing on providing a platform for Ukrainian voices to call for increased funding to continue community-led initiatives for vulnerable populations. The advocacy started with a statement from Friends Europe’s board of directors. Friends organised events around World Tuberculosis Day in France and in the European Parliament to highlight the work of civil society and community-based organisations in maintaining access to critical health services in particular for key populations. Finally, it facilitated the access of Ukrainian voices to European media with coverage in the Rai and in Euractiv.