Thursday November 18, 2021, (Warsaw, Poland)— A group of distinguished personalities from the Eastern European and Central Asian region led by the Former President of Poland Aleksander Kwaśniewski,  today launched the  Eastern and Central European and Central Asian Commission on Drug Policy (ECECACD), a new independent regional body  set up to bring  evidence -based scientific data to the table  to initiate honest conversations with decision-makers in the countries of the region.

The region is home to an estimated 3 000 000 people who use drugs— one quarter of all people who inject drugs worldwide and is also one of two regions in the world where HIV infections continue to increase.

“As a member of the Global Commission on Drug policy, I am proud to see how political mobilization and commitment can, and have, changed drug policies to be more evidence-based and human rights oriented,” said President Aleksander Kwaśniewski who will also chair the new body. “That is why I am inspired to initiate a Regional Commission on Drug Policy—one that will focus on the specific epidemiology of the region.

“My fellow Commissioners and I are all joining the ECECACD to learn some more with the aim of initiating an open, evidence-based dialogue that helps to promote a more balanced and human rights approach to drug policy in the region.”

The ECECACD will feature the following Commissioners:

• Aleksander Kwaśniewski, Former President of Poland (Chair)
• Michel Kazatchkine, Former Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Switzerland
• Pavel Bém, Ex-Mayor of Prague, Czechia
• Vytenis Andriukaitis, WHO Special Envoy for Europe, Lithuania
• Elvira Surabaldiyeva, former Deputy Prime Minister Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan
• Andris Piebalgs, Adviser to the President of Latvia and former European Commissioner for Energy (Barroso I) and former European Commissioner for Development (Barroso II), Latvia
• Elena Pinchuk, Founder, Elena Pinchuk AIDS Foundation, Ukraine

In recent years, independent Regional Commissions have been set up in Latin America, under the leadership of Fernando Henrique Cardoso (Brazil), and in West Africa – West Africa Commission on Drugs, under the leadership of Kofi Annan.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The first analytical reports of the Commission:

• Drug laws and policies in four regions of Eurasia
• Perception of drugs in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia: overhaul needed
• Production, trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs in EECA region

Drug Policy and health in the ECECA region

Central and Eastern European countries and Central Asian countries face prevailing problems associated with the trafficking and transit of illicit drugs from Asia and Latin America, mostly to EU member states, as well as with drug use of locally produced synthetic opioids and new psychoactive substances.

Approximately half of all new HIV infections occur among people injecting drugs (PWID). One in seven PWID is living with HIV and one in three is infected with hepatitis C.

The region is home to 3 000 000 people who use drugs — that is one quarter of all people who inject drugs worldwide.  And 66% of whom are living in Russia and 77% in Russia and Ukraine together. Unfortunately, access to harm reduction and health services remains limited. In some countries harm reduction services do not sufficiently cover the number of people who use drugs. A number of countries in the region still have no harm reduction services at all.

The Central and Eastern European countries and Central Asian countries face prevailing problems associated with traffic and transit of illicit drugs from Asia and Latin America mostly to EU member states, as well as with the use of locally produced synthetic opioids and new psychoactive substances.

Across the region, drug policy is primarily focused on the reduction of drug supply and demand, through law enforcement programs that aim to end illicit drug markets and stop consumption. Repressive and punitive polices are applied to people who use drugs, imposing severe criminal sanctions.

This imbalance between repression and care is reflected in the region’s legislation, and has led to a range of negative consequences: growing HIV, hepatitis and tuberculosis epidemics, widespread corruption in law enforcement agencies, economic waste, etc.

The region is one of two in the world where HIV infections continue to increase. Approximately half of all new HIV infections occur in people injecting drugs (PWID). One in seven PWID is living with HIV and one in three is infected with hepatitis C.

The criminalization of drugs and drug use is the main cause for an increase in prison populations in EECA countries. Arresting and putting people who inject drugs (PWID) in prison is both expensive and associated with an increase in HIV infections.

A simple shift in resources from criminalization to harm reduction approaches, would ensure economic savings and more HIV infections averted. Accordingly, to the recent research by The Economist – over a 20 year period (2020-2040) the cost savings accrued from decriminalizing can buy antiretroviral therapy (ART) and opioid agonist treatment (OAT) to control the current HIV epidemics in people who inject drugs (PWID) in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.

Reinvesting saved costs (that is €773m over 20 years) into scaling up antiretroviral therapy (ART) to 81% coverage and opioid agonist treatment (OAT) up to 40% coverage as per UNAIDS/WHO guidelines—would ensure a decrease in HIV incidence in PWID by 79.4-92.9% over 20 years.

That is something governments cannot ignore!

According to the data, collected through the REAct (instrument for the community-led monitoring of most marginalized groups’ human rights violations), one out of every three cases of such violations registered in EECA region involves police and law enforcement agencies severely violating fundamental human rights such as the right to life, freedom, and bodily integrity.

Moreover, every third detained drug user experiences torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment during arrest or detention. In order to make detainee collaborate in the investigation or to obtain confessions, police officers impede access to opioid-substitution therapy, causing unbearable suffering and abstinence syndrome to detained drug user.

In contrast to what we see in the region, many countries around the world have moved, or are moving away from  the “war on drugs” approach in  one  form or the other: Jamaica, Switzerland, Germany, Portugal, Uruguay, Canada, and Mexico are good examples.. These countries have acknowledged the failures of prohibition and therefore adopted new approaches to address the drugs issue through policies that protect human rights and address the drug-related harms more efficiently.

Within the ECECA region, Czechia, for instance, has one of the lowest rates of HIV infection among PWID (<1%), of overdoses (20 cases per year), and  low hepatitis infection rates. They have one of the smallest heroin markets in Europe, and people who use drugs are in contact with services.

Further Information: Inna Gavrylova, Alliance for Public Health, E-mail: gavrylova@aph.org.ua

The European Harm Reduction Conference has been held since 2011 and is one of the largest events in this area for representatives of civil society, communities of key groups, the medical staff, politicians, researchers and the media.

Marseille (2011), Basel and Amsterdam (2014), Bucharest (2018) have hosted the conference in the past. This year, the 5th European Harm Reduction Conference (#EHRC2021) by Correlation European Harm Reduction Network in close cooperation with the Eurasian Harm Reduction Association and the Czech organization SANANIM in Prague.

The Conference serves as a certain hub with the purpose to exchange experiences and different points of view on harm reduction, social inclusion and related topics, and is a platform for interaction at both the national and regional levels. From November 10 to 12, participants were presented with the latest research and development in the field of harm reduction, best innovative practices and achievements of global drug policy, as well as its impact on people who use drugs and other marginalized groups such as sex workers and people living with HIV.

At #EHRC2021, the Ukrainian delegation included representatives of Alliance for Public Health, the #SoS_project, other civil society organizations, as well as members of the government and the community of people who use drugs from several cities, making it the largest after the Czech one. Ahead of the Conference, the team took part in a workshop on HIV prevention, treatment and care among people who use stimulant drugs, organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which aimed to increase the knowledge and capacity of participants, as well as developing effective strategies to ensure that people who use stimulant drugs have access to HIV services. Maria Malakhova, Alliance for Public Health: “Participation in this workshop was very useful. We managed to agree with the leading Czech organization in the field of harm reduction SANANIM on further cooperation and a study tour of stakeholders from Ukraine to the Czech Republic to learn more about the experience of this country and use it for a pilot project on substitution therapy for stimulants users in our country, which is planned under the next regional grant for 2022-2024 “.

The first day of the Conference was held in the context of establishing cooperation between Fast Track Cities partners and the UNITE Global Parliamentarians Network to End Infectious Diseases, which brings together current and former government officials, incl. Senates and Congresses, the European Parliament and other regional and international legislatures and operates in 75 countries around the world. The meeting was attended by Ricardo Baptista Leite, founder and president of the Global Network, MP of Portugal, Mariam Jashi, former MP of Georgia, representatives of UNODC, WHO, Alliance of Public Health, deputies of the Odessa City Council, Kyiv City Council, Vice-Mayor of Chisinau and Deputy Minister health care of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Discussions included potential collaboration between the participants, improving urban performance, and sharing best practices of municipalities in promoting harm reduction and drug policy change, with the aim of maintaining global health as a priority. “Alliance has been implementing Fast Track Cities approach since 2017. As per now, we’ve been fast tracking municipal responses in 30 cities in the EECA region by helping cities to develop municipal HIV programs aiming 95-95-95, to advocate for municipal funding allocation for KPs and to implement innovative and successful interventions.” – shared Ievgen Kushnir, Alliance for Public Health.

The role of cities and local governments in addressing public health, safety and social cohesion was highlighted in the plenary session “Fast track cities on harm reduction – local interventions make the difference” during the Conference, supported by the Alliance for Public Health.

As noted by Pavel Bem, ex-mayor of Prague and member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy: “Local authorities have a crucial role in addressing public health, urban security and social cohesion. They are at the forefront of reducing harm and implementing inclusive measures to tackle the unintended consequences of drug use for the individual and the public. At the same time, cities operate in the legal and social framework of national policies and facing contextual challenges such as economic downfalls, migration or the struggles with a global pandemics like HIV and COVID. Our goal is to discuss experiences, problems and solutions with leading experts and local authorities for mutual learning and exchange.” He was also supported by Tetiana Deshko in her video message to the session participants: “Role of cities in epidemics is absolutely clear: to give an example from my home country – 5 cities are home for 70% of people, living with HIV in Ukraine. The EECA region is going through a broad decentralization reform, which means that more and more resources and make-decision powers are available for mayors of the cities. And the choices that they make in response of HIV and drug-use is critically important.

As for today 26 cities in EECA region have already signed Paris Declaration and they have a willingness to respond HIV among key populations as well as they make concrete steps to make a relevant and strong response. What a bright example is Odesa. In 2017 the city developed a program to respond HIV and TB and allocated over $ 2 million for the 2-years period for OST therapy and syringe exchange through pharmacy. Other example – Belts (Moldova) developed a program and allocated municipal resources, as well as the city of Chisinau, the Osh city (Kyrgyzstan) is another bright example.

The investment into HIV and drug use responses have really proven to be a sustainable investment in favor of broader public health challenges the cities faced. Ten more cities joined Zero TB initiative and now jointly working on improving TB programs. They have become active on Hepatitis and when we were heat by COVID-19 epidemic they developed COVID-response programs for key populations. As an example: 3 cities in Ukraine (Kyiv, Odesa and Dnipro) received rapid reagent tests and immediately started testing key population groups, even before vaccine arrived. Likewise, Bosnia and Herzegovina cities became real allies of response for key populations while no one else where there.”

Tetiana Deshko, Alliance for Public Health Video message to the participants of “Fast track cities on harm reduction – local interventions make the difference” Panel Session on the #EHRC2021

Thursday, November 11, 2021, (Geneva, Switzerland; Warsaw, Poland)— A group of distinguished personalities from the Eastern European and Central Asian region will launch the  Eastern and Central European and Central Asian Commission on Drug Policy(ECECACD), a new regional commission set up to  inspire better drug policy in the region inspired by the Global Commission on Drug Policy.

The Regional Commission is an independent body chaired by Aleksander Kwaśniewski, former President of Poland and member of the Global Commission on Drug Policy.

The ECECACD will feature the following Commissioners:

• Aleksander Kwaśniewski, Former President of Poland (Chair)
• Michel Kazatchkine, Former Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Switzerland
• Pavel Bém, Ex-Mayor of Prague, Czechia
• Vytenis Andriukaitis, WHO Special Envoy for Europe, Lithuania
• Elvira Surabaldiyeva, former Deputy Prime Minister Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan
• Andris Piebalgs, Adviser to the President of Latvia and former European Commissioner for Energy (Barroso I) and former European Commissioner for Development (Barroso II), Latvia
• Elena Pinchuk, Founder, Elena Pinchuk AIDS Foundation, Ukraine

In recent years, independent Regional Commissions have been set up in Latin America, under the leadership of Fernando Henrique Cardoso (Brazil), and in West Africa – West Africa Commission on Drugs, under the leadership of Kofi Annan.

The ECECA region continues to have a mixed record on drug policy. More moderate public health approaches in countries like Czechia and Estonia contrast with a more oppressive policy in countries such as Russia and Belarus. HIV incidence continues to increase in Eastern Europe  accompanied by high rates of drug resistant tuberculosis (TB).

ENDS

What: Launch  the  Eastern and Central European and Central Asian Commission on Drug Policy (ECECACD)

When: 10:00-11:00 CET, (GMT +1)Thursday, November 18, 2021

Where: This media launch will  be a live Zoom event. Media can register here:

Who:

• Aleksander Kwaśniewski, Former President of Poland (Chair)
• Michel Kazatchkine, Former Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Switzerland
• Pavel Bém, Ex-Mayor of Prague, Czech Republic
• Vytenis Andriukaitis, WHO Special Envoy for Europe, Lithuania
• Elvira Surabaldiyeva, former Deputy Prime Minister Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan
• Andris Piebalgs, Adviser to the President of Latvia and former European Commissioner for Energy (Barroso I) and former European Commissioner for Development (Barroso II), Latvia

Further Information:

Michael Kessler

Michael Kessler Media

Mob: +34 655 792 699

Email:michael.kessler@intoon-media.com

The need for building sustainability in the context of the transition to national funding has been widely discussed over the past few years. Countries are reforming their health systems, but with the advent of COVID-19, other threats, such as HIV, have not disappeared, and in a number of countries the situation with detection and initiation of ARV treatment has become even worse.

We decided to find out how the region has progressed over the past 3 years and launch a new #SoS_project Small Talk, in which we want to discuss the key focuses of the ongoing efforts to achieve sustainability of HIV services in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Southeast Europe with leaders of nongovernmental organizations. With those who are at the forefront of the fight against the HIV epidemic, and now COVID-19. They work closely with government agencies to ensure that 2 million people living with HIV in EECA and SEE countries have access to quality ARV treatment and key social services for HIV in a format that is convenient and safe in the context of the COVID epidemic.

The heroes of our SmallTalk set of interviews are international partners of #SoS_project, the largest regional Global Fund project in the EECA region. They are true Sustainability Leaders, whose daily work is aimed at creating it.

#SoS_project Interviewer is Aibar Sultangaziev, public figure, expert on public health reform, expert on access to HIV/TB treatment, chairman of the Partnership Network Association (Kyrgyzstan). Aibar’s experience in the field – over 15 years.

#SoS_project: Aibar, we can name you as one of the leaders in building the sustainability of national health systems in the EECA region. After all, you are included in all planning and reforming of health care processes in Kyrgyzstan in the context of HIV, tuberculosis and COVID-19. Even more – in many projects you are the Lead. 2019-2021 brought many challenges: a transition period from donor funding to the national one, COVID-19, restarting the human rights system in the country, etc. 2020 has transformed the world into a completely different reality. A lot has changed. And in this context, let’s talk about health sustainability. So, what is it?

AS: Nowadays a lot of people are talking about sustainability. What is it? – It is a state of a certain balance, a sense of confidence, security, predictability, or in simple words, a normal state, which is simply necessary for everyone to live a normal life, and the healthcare system is no exception. This balance is needed in order to fight effectively against the epidemic, create favorable conditions for people, save and extend the lives of citizens, providing both treatment and the necessary social services. Basically, health care balance is a matter of national security in any country. Its components are constantly changing and it is very important to track key parameters and influence them in a timely manner.

#SoS_project: And in the context of fight against epidemics, how is the sustainability of services in the fight against HIV/AIDS created? What specific improvements have occurred over the past 3 years in Kyrgyzstan, due to this fact? Please, give some examples.

AS: Improvement in sustainability is created by influencing on key points. For example, speaking of the major improvements that have come about through collaboration and our partnership on the Global Fund #SoS_project platform, I can highlight the following points.

Firstly, there has been an improvement in access to quality treatment for people living with HIV and optimization of direct costs to the country at the same time. So, according to a number of strategic steps with the support of the project, we managed to reduce the cost of the most common HIV treatment regimen – TLD, which is received by more than 80% of all people living with HIV (PLHIV – SoS_project note). The price has been reduced for the country to $ 5.55 for a month course! It is $ 66.6 per year in United Nations Development Program purchases and up to $ 7.8 for a monthly course ($ 93.6 per year) in public procurement. It saves a significant portion of HIV program funds. There is nowhere below. And the list of names of ARV therapy on the Kyrgyz market has been significantly expanded, which makes it possible to effectively compete and reduce prices.

Secondly, development and construction of national system for HIV social services contracting, which are strategically important for the country and provided by specialized and experienced nongovernmental organizations. Also, for 3 years of work in the SoS_project partnership, national funding for HIV programs has increased 3 times, reaching 63 million soms ($ 745,562) annually. In 2019, the implementation of the state social contracts began and in 2021 the Republican AIDS Center allocated 5 million soms for state social procurement. And I would like to emphasize the important contribution to the achievement of such results of our partners from the Republican AIDS Center, NGO 100% Life, ItpcRu, the Institute for Analytics and Advocacy, the Alliance for Public Health, etc.

#SoS_project: So it means, sustainability in the context of HIV/AIDS is a work at the national level, with ministries and departments?

AS: Not only. The contribution in sustainability building is also very important at the municipal level. And it is logical, because large cities are home to the largest population, so they are both drivers of epidemics and the best partners for solving problems on a global scale. So, I can note that the mayor’s office of one of the largest cities in the country – Osh, has taken a number of important strategic steps over these 3 years: the Paris Declaration was signed, the city program to overcome the HIV and tuberculosis epidemic was approved and is being implemented. In 2021, in the amount of 300 thousand soms ($ 3,550), funds were allocated for the state social contract for the key groups testing component and support for the PLHIV Сenter. And we, along with partners from Center Plus, the Alliance for Public Health, UNAIDS, provided technical and expert support at all stages.

#SoS_project: So sustainability is mainly about financing treatment and support?

AS: Not exactly. The human rights field related to fight against stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV, as well as the criminalization of HIV, is also very important for sustainability. And we have made good progress in this direction, thanks to cooperation with SoS_project and national partners, including UNDP and The Soros Foundation-Kyrgyzstan. During these three years, we managed to introduce the REAct electronic system for documenting offenses, which is included also in the draft of the new National HIV program, as the main tool for monitoring violations of the rights of PLHIV and key groups.

We have built partnerships with the Soros Foundation street lawyers project and registered cases receive a solution in the form of legal and social consultations, legal support. To date, 1147 calls have been registered and 60% of them have already been successfully resolved, and work continues with the rest. By the way, it is very important that the continuation of the work of the base is supported within the framework of the Global Fund national grant until 2023.

#SoS_project: has COVID-19 added work, made it more difficult, or made it easier?

AS: COVID-19 made it more complicated, but we adapted very quickly and for example switched to online, like the whole world. In April 2020, at the very beginning of the COVID epidemic, we promptly developed a national action plan, which we are using up to these days. With the support of the special program of the Global Fund on COVID-19 in cooperation with the Alliance for Public Health, we officially brought to Kyrgyzstan 10,500 rapid tests with high sensitivity – STANDARD Q COVID-19 Ag (SD Biosensor, South Korea). The tests were delivered to the Republican AIDS Center and then distributed to healthcare organizations, AIDS and tuberculosis centers, nongovernmental organizations working with key populations and PLHIV. It will improve the detection of COVID-19 and prevent its widespread spread among vulnerable populations to HIV. We were the first in the EECA region to get access to additional GF funding for COVID and received $ 6.6 million instead of $ 4. Their active implementation is already underway, more than 30 X-ray machines, a tomograph, tests and much more are being purchased. However, even this is an incomplete list of what has been achieved during the #SoS_project funding in Kyrgyzstan.

***

The #InYourPower info campaign was launched with the financial support and initiative of the team of the regional project “Sustainability of services for key populations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia region” (aka #SoS_project)

The annual Fast-Track Cities 2021 Conference is hosted October 20-22, 2021, in Lisbon by the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), in collaboration with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the Fast-Track Cities Institute, and other partners.

Key themes of Fast-Track Cities 2021:

• Best practices and policy recommendations to ensure access to holistic HIV care, which supports long-term treatment success and quality of life for all People living with or at risk of HIV.
• Set out targets and programmes for health-related quality of life that governments with HIV community must put in place.
• Health equity, to ensure access to innovative care and better HIV health outcomes for all communities.

The delegation from the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region is also taking part in the Conference this year and represented by the UNODC Programme Office in Eastern Europe, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, the Alliance for Public Health, NGO 100% Life, officials of the Kyiv City State Administration.

On behalf of Vitali Klitschko and the Kyiv Mayor’s Office, Anna Starostenko, Deputy Mayor of the Kyiv City State Administration spoke at High-Level Panel on the first day: “We have made every effort to ensure that HIV / AIDS prevention and treatment programs do not stop, as well to adapt it in COVID-19 reality. Thanks to close and well-coordinated cooperation between the municipality and the state, we managed to ensure the implementation of the preventive component of the HIV response. Our prevention programs, such as mobile teams, outpatient clinics, syringe exchange points, have reached 90 percent of risk groups … All these actions did not slow down the Fast-Track goals, but also improved the achievement of certain results. According to the first 90 indicator – 77% are aware of their HIV status. According to the second 90 component – 83.4% know about the status and receive treatment. The third indicator is that we have even exceeded our expectations: 95% of them are receiving ART. Kyiv willingly shares its best practices, cases, positive experience in fight against HIV with cities in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region. In particular, a year ago, our municipality, together with partners from the Alliance for Public Health, hosted delegations from more than 20 cities in our region to discuss modern and effective approaches to fight against HIV and TB. And today, more than 20 cities have already joined the Fast-Track family in the region and are implementing the ambitious 95-95-95 plans.”

Ievgen Kushnir, Manager of international programs, Alliance for Public Health notes: “Despite the “hybrid” format of the event – online and offline, the most interesting and deep program is ahead. At this Conference, it is very interesting for me to get acquainted in detail with the achievements and successful interventions in the context of the COVID-19 epidemic: what worked and what did not, in order to determine the next steps and opportunities for the cities of EECA. Our task also at Fast-Track Cities 2021 is to share tangible results of cooperation with the mayor’s offices of our region – today we are cooperating with 25 cities, 17 of which have signed the Paris Declaration and are moving towards the goal of 95-95-95 step by step. I am glad that already on the first day of the Conference, Carlos Moedas, the new Mayor of Lisbon, shared his interest and support to the Regional Initiative of the Alliance #InYourPower to defeat the HIV epidemic. It confirms once again that the effect of the global, well-coordinated work of cities in the fight against HIV will not keep you waiting long.”

The purpose of the Conference in 2021 is to analyze the success and progress of participants in the Fast-Track Cities movement, to discuss common problems for all parties involved, and also provide an opportunity to share best practices in overcoming HIV, TB, HBV and HCV in cities. In addition, the conference organizers included the COVID-19 epidemic among the issues discussed. As José M. Zuniga, President, IAPAC and the Fast-Track Cities Institute, highlighted at the Conferene Welcome: “In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Fast-Track Cities are at the forefront of advancing global public health goals. City multilateralism is critical for cities to serve as engines of innovation to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.3.” Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director, UNAIDS supported him as well: “Cities and municipalities will play a central role in ending AIDS. Through bold public health leadership, they can end the inequalities and social exclusion that preventing the most marginalized from exercising their right to health.”

During his welcome speech, the contribution of Fast-Track Cities was also noted by Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of Portugal: “This congress is crucial to remind us of the fundamental role of cities on the health of communities. Apart from the progress made, we still have a long way to reach the sustainability goals we have set.”

Since UNAIDS engaged high-level global stakeholders in dialogue in December 2013 to develop a roadmap to expand access to HIV testing and treatment, there has been an increase in accountability and commitment between governments, NGOs and community leaders by 2030 to eliminate AIDS as a public health threat. At the same time, recognizing that the active political engagement of mayors and other municipal leaders will be critical to the fight against HIV in cities (and therefore at regional and country levels), 26 cities and municipalities signed the Paris Declaration of Fast Track in 2014 to eradicate the HIV epidemic (Fast-Track Cities). To date, the initiative has a map of more than 350 cities and municipalities around the world, many of which have made great strides in achieving and exceeding UNAIDS targets of 90-90-90. In addition, Fast-Track Cities’ work also aims to eliminate stigma and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals for key populations: people living with HIV (PLHIV), tuberculosis (TB) and viral hepatitis, as it remains clear that the fight must go the same way against all these public health threats at the same time.

Alliance for Public Health has launched a second regional COVID-19 program funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria as a part of the COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM). The budget is US $ 1,545,780. The implementation of the activity is for 6 months of work – from October 1, 2021 to March 30, 2022.

The coordination of the COVID-19 program at the regional level will be carried out by the #SoS_project team in 14 countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

“Within the framework of the first support program of the Global Fund, in 9 months we implemented catalytic measures to prevent, identify, study the impact and develop an action plan for responding to the health system in the case of unforeseen pandemics like COVID-19, in three sub-regions at once – Eastern Europe, Central Asia and Southeast Europe”, – says Sergii Filippovych, Director of #SoS_project, Alliance for Public Health. “So, 8 countries received 76.7 thousand rapid tests for COVID-19 as humanitarian aid. For example, in Moldova during 1.5 months out of 223 express tests, 26 (i.e. more than 11.6%), were positive, which indicates the urgent need for testing with rapid tests for early detection of coronavirus, reducing the risk of infection transmission and, accordingly, increasing timely access to treatment. The second support program, through the Global Fund’s regional grant mechanism, will also focus on supporting sustainability and critical interventions in the response to co-epidemics. ”

The focus of the second program is aimed at:

• support for key groups and communities,
• study the impact of COVID-19 on the social determinants of health and the quality of services provided to key groups,
• support for digital technologies,
• pprocurement of rapid antigen and PCR tests,
• pprocurement of special vending machines (condoms/syringes),
• other activities that will significantly support the achievement of HIV/TB programs in the context of COVID-19.

The second regional COVID-19 program expanded its geography to support country programs aimed at helping key populations. The program also includes interventions aimed at human rights, community involvement and attention to gender issues, community-based monitoring, and ensuring sustainable access to services. Our partners in the implementation of the program are – EHRA, ECOM, ENPUD, CAAPL.

Government funding for HIV prevention and treatment services for key populations and people living with HIV was extremely insufficient in the EECA region at the end of 2020. With the outbreak of COVID-19, which shook the whole world, all countries were forced to revise their budgets, setting the priority area of ​​budget spending on measures against COVID-19. It has endangered many years of work to build the sustainability of HIV services in the countries of the region.

It should be noted, that #SoS_project quite naturally became the main platform for the implementation of activities on COVID-19 as a part of the new program to support the region by the Global Fund. Existing partnerships with national partners, knowledge of the region and problems, understanding of financial gaps and opportunities, as well as the work of the #SoS_project team on budget advocacy at the national and municipal levels will help strengthen the program and provide its immediate launch and rapid implementation within 6 months. It is assumed that the services and terms of their provision will continue in the future.

C19RM Сoordinator – Nadiya Yanhol yanhol@aph.org.ua

As of August 1, 2021, there are 10,807 registered people living with HIV in Kyrgyzstan. Along with other UN members, the country supports and implements the “Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS: On the Fast-Track to Accelerate the Fight against HIV and to End the AIDS Epidemic by 2030”: the sate, confirming its commitment and readiness to implement its goals and objectives, approved the Program of the Government of the Republic to overcome the HIV epidemic. However, its completion is nearing and Kyrgyzstan is starting to develop a new Strategy.

On September 28, in Bishkek, a High-level meeting was held on the topic: “Progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the national response to eliminate all forms of stigma and discrimination in relation to HIV-infection.” Participants, including representatives of the government, civil society, international organizations and medical structures, had the opportunity to get acquainted in detail not only with the results of recent years on the country’s achievements in the fight against HIV, but also to get the most detailed analysis of the situation in the context of the COVID pandemic. As Sanzharbek Isaev, Head of the Department of Health and Social Development of the Government Office of Kyrgyzstan, noted at the opening of the event: “The overall goal of the meeting is a global one… It is the elimination of stigma and discrimination in relation to key populations and the achievement of indicators 95-95-95. I want to note that our country is always open to dialogue and supports international initiatives in the field of strengthening human and public health. With each new Program, we try to increase the amount of government funding for HIV-related activities. So, despite the pandemic, not a single citizen living with HIV was left in quarantine without medicine or treatment.”

Alexander Goliusov, UNAIDS Regional Director, also supported him: “Years of experience in combating HIV infection have shown the devastating consequences of stigma and discrimination, both on individuals and entire communities, and on the effectiveness of the health system. One of the most important and complex issues in this area is being discussed – the issue of decriminalizing drug policy. We are well aware that this work is not easy. UNAIDS stands ready to provide a full support to these efforts. I hope that today’s meeting will give a new impetus to the development of partnerships, the promotion of modern, effective, scientifically and practically proven approaches to eliminating all forms of stigma and discrimination, which is a key moment in achieving our common goal of ending the epidemic by 2030”.

International experience and progressive practices show that the refusal of detention of people who use drugs in favor of their treatment not only saves the budget, but also reduces the level of infection with HIV, hepatitis, and tuberculosis. During her speech, Tetiana Deshko, Director of the Department of International Programs, Alliance for Public Health, presented data from The Economist’s 2021 study on the approaches and costs of drug control programs in a number of EECA countries (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the Russian Federation) and advanced ways to reform and optimize it. “According to the received information, in Kyrgyzstan, 46% of people who use drugs have been held in penitentiary institutions at some point in their lives. Every year, millions of euros are spent from the national budget for the maintenance of such prisoners,” stressed Ms. Deshko. “Reducing the detention of people who use drugs but who are not involved in the distribution and are a subject to treatment – a total of 24.8% of sentences under ‘narcotic’ articles – will save € 1.9 million from the state budget annually, which enough for OST programs for 30% of PWUD and treatment for 81% of HIV-positive PWUD. As a result, HIV in this group will decrease by almost 70%. In fact, the HIV epidemic can be stopped without additional funds, only by properly reallocating available resources.”

The block of international practices was summarized by Dr. Jakob Huber, Senior Partner Licit, using the example of the basic principles of drug policy in Switzerland. According to him, the learning process in the country began in the 1980s and continues to this day. At one point, the society was faced with the realization that criminalization and repression only led to the marginalization of people who use drugs, and that medical and social services did not reach 95% of the PWUD community. The result is Switzerland’s 4-pillar drug strategy, which includes drug trafficking suppression, prevention, therapy and harm reduction for ordinary people who use drugs. As a result, to date, the number of AIDS-related deaths among people who inject drugs has decreased in the country by 90%, as well as the number of newly infected (-90%), drug-related crime has dropped by 70%, and the number opioid addicts decreased by 30%.

Summing up the results of this meeting, Andriy Klepikov, Director of the Alliance for Public Health, noted the indisputable achievements of Kyrgyzstan and presented three regional #InYourPower awards at once: to the Presidential Administration, the Ministry of Health and the AIDS Center. Through the efforts of a number of initiatives, a lot has already been achieved – to reduce prices for ART, develop social order at the national and city levels, and launch important innovations. And the new national Strategy should reflect and continue the path chosen by the state.

Below you can find the speakers’ presentations (in Russian):

• Alexander Goliusov, Director, Regional Support Group for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, UNAIDS “Progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the national response to eliminate all forms of HIV-related stigma and discrimination“
• Umutkan Zhusupovna Chokmorova, Director of the AIDS Center “Progress in the implementation of HIV activities in the Kyrgyz Republic and the development of a new national HIV program“
• Alexandra Volgina, GNP + & SOS project “Implementation of Global Partnership“
• Aybar Sultangaziev, Partnership Network Association “A survey among nongovernmental organizations and community representatives within the framework of the Global Partnership for Action to Eliminate All Forms of HIV-related Stigma and Discrimination“
• Tetiana Deshko, Alliance for Public Health, “Ways of reforming drug policy in EECA and Kyrgyzstan“
• Jakob Huber, Senior Partner Licit “Strategic and drug policy principles in Switzerland“
• Ilimbek Sadykov, Soros Foundation-Kyrgyzstan “Component of the fight against stigma and discrimination as part of the new national program to stabilize the HIV epidemic in 2022-2026.“
• Aibek Bekbolotov, Deputy Director of the AIDS Center, “Interdepartmental Plan to Overcome Legal Barriers Related to HIV“

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The meeting will be organized by Association “Partner Network” with the supported by the project “Sustainability of services for key groups in the regions of Eastern Europe and Central Asia” (#SoS_project).

SoS_project: The implementation of the three-year project coordinated by the Alliance for Public Health, in a consortium with the 100% Life (All-Ukrainian Network of PLWH), the Central Asian HIV’ Association and the Eurasian Key Populations Health Network, with the participation of national governmental and non-governmental organizations, regional key populations networks , international agencies and organizations, as well as technical partners, with financial support  The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

HIV is a common problem and mutual responsibility, where every victory is the result of painstaking and well-coordinated work of countries and civil society in the fight against the epidemic. Heads of government, mayors, officials and opinion leaders play a key role in this process at the national level. It is their decisions that determine what the country chooses on the way to overcome barriers and sustainability of services for key populations.

On September 27, a round table “Accelerating the response to the HIV / AIDS epidemic in Osh city” was held in Kyrgyzstan. Despite the challenging conditions in the COVID-19 pandemic, the city’s achievements in the fight against HIV over the past two years are impressive: in 2019, Osh city signed the Paris Declaration on HIV and the Zero TB Declaration. At the same time, the city Fast Track working group was created with the participation of representatives of the mayor’s office, NGOs and key groups to develop the 90-90-90 program and a year later, the city program on HIV in the context of COVID-19 for 2021-2022 was approved. As part of its implementation, over 4,000 people were tested at mobile points on the city streets, ART and food were delivered to their homes for representatives of the community of people living with HIV (PLHIV), incl. migrants to Russia, Turkey and other countries. With the support of the mayor’s office, voluntary counseling and HIV testing became possible in all hospitals in Osh city, a set of trainings and information campaigns were carried out in six local territorial offices. And for the first time, funds (USD 13,000) were allocated from the city budget for HIV and TB programs in 2019-2021. The city has already presented its achievements in 2019 at the Fast-Track Cities international conference in London and during a visit to the Mayor of Bern in June this year. And now it’s time to share them with the participants of the roundtable organized in their hometown.

It is not surprising that such a commitment and the work of local authorities did not go unnoticed by the society and invited guests, including representatives of departments, international and non-governmental organizations in the field of harm reduction and the fight against HIV, tuberculosis and social disintegration. Andriy Klepikov, Executive Director of the Alliance for Public Health, during his speech presented the #InYourPower regional award to the city of Osh city, represented by Vice Mayor Venera Ryskulova. “Not every city receives the #InYourPower award. Osh received today! This “like” is a recognition of what has been done: the signing of the Paris Declaration was followed by a municipal HIV program and its funding,” said Mr. Klepikov.

The roundtable participants were able to discuss further priorities for the city’s work in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The main recommendations for the provision of services included the completion of sentinel surveillance to determine the estimated number of PLHIV at the city level, the approval of a new municipal HIV program starting in 2023, an increase in funding for programs from the local budget and testing of key groups, including migrants and the extremely poor people living in slums, providing social support for difficult patients, expanding rapid testing for COVID-19, and developing and implementing joint programs between the Ministry of Health and the Mayor’s office.

Alliance for Public Health and the #SoS_project Team sincerely congratulates Osh city on the regional award and wishes them success in the consolidated and sustainable work in a fight against HIV! We also thank Aybar Sultangaziev and the team of the Association “Partner Network”, Ravshan Mazhitov and the team of the Plus Center fund for fruitful cooperation.

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The roundtable was organized by Association “Partner Network” with the support of the Alliance for Public Health and the regional project “Sustainability of services for key populations in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region” (#SoS_project).

SoS_project: The implementation of the three-year project coordinated by the Alliance for Public Health, in a consortium with the 100% Life (All-Ukrainian Network of PLWH), the Central Asian HIV’ Association and the Eurasian Key Populations Health Network, with the participation of national governmental and non-governmental organizations, regional key populations networks , international agencies and organizations, as well as technical partners, with financial support  The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

On September 28, 2021, a high-level meeting “Progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS and the national response to eliminate all forms of HIV-related stigma and discrimination” will be held in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan).

As of August 1, 2021, 10,807 people living with HIV were registered in the country. 4842 people are getting antiretroviral therapy.

State bodies of the Kyrgyz Republic, confirmed their commitment and readiness to implement the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS and achieve the 95-95-95 goal as well as approved an interdepartmental plan to overcome legal barriers related to HIV/AIDS.

The Government’s HIV Program is also coming to an end, and the country is starting to develop a new national strategy. The Program is expected to include substantive sections aimed at eliminating HIV-related stigma and discrimination. Strengthening these measures is necessary due to the fact that, despite the taken steps, it remains a serious challenge and barrier in the provision of services for PLHIV and other key populations. For example, in the electronic system for documenting offenses ReACT for the first half of 2021, 320 cases of violations of the rights of PLHIV and other key populations were recorded.

Among the participants of the event:

• Zhyldyz Bakashova, Deputy Chairwoman of the Cabinet of Ministers
• Alexander Goliusov, UNAIDS Regional Director
• Michel Kazatchkine, UNAIDS Special Advisor
• Andriy Klepikov, Alliance for Public Health
• Dr. Jakob Huber, Senior Partner Licit
• Aibar Sultangaziev, Partnership Network Association
• Tetiana Deshko, Alliance for Public Health
• Alexandra Volgina Global Network of PLWH GNP +

As well as Heads of Ministries and departments, representatives of international and non-governmental organizations.

The meeting will be supported by the project “Sustainability of services for key groups in the regions of Eastern Europe and Central Asia” (#SoS_project).

SoS_project: The implementation of the three-year project coordinated by the Alliance for Public Health, in a consortium with the 100% Life (All-Ukrainian Network of PLWH), the Central Asian HIV’ Association and the Eurasian Key Populations Health Network, with the participation of national governmental and non-governmental organizations, regional key populations networks , international agencies and organizations, as well as technical partners, with financial support  The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

REAct (Rights – Evidence – Actions) is a tool  that was developed by Frontline AIDS for monitoring and response to human rights violations at community level. The system is implemented by ICF “Alliance for Public Health” with a technical support of Frontline AIDS and financial support of  the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. REAct enables organizations to record cases of human rights violations among key populations and respond to human rights barriers in accessing HIV prevention and treatment, as well as health care services.

On September 27, 2021, from 09.30 to 12.30 a Round table “Accelerating the response to the HIV / AIDS epidemic in Osh city” will be held in Osh city (Kyrgyzstan).

The Kyrgyz Republic, along with other UN members, joined and is implementing the “Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS: On the Fast-Track to Accelerate the Fight against HIV and to End the AIDS Epidemic by 2030”.

The event organized with the support of the Alliance for Public Health and the Regional Project “Sustainability of Services for Key Populations in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Regions” (#SoS_project) and will be attended by invited guests who will share their experiences and strategies in relation to COVID, drug policy, as well as harm reduction to health and society against HIV, tuberculosis and social disintegration.

On the Round table will be presented data the implementation of the city’s HIV program and state social contracting in Osh city. The event will host participants from international organizations, deputies of the сity, Kenesh of Osh city, representatives of law enforcement agencies, heads of medical institutions, local offices, non-governmental organizations.

Among the speakers:

• Almaz Mambetov, Mayor of Osh city
• Jakob Huber, Senior Partner Licit
• Andriy Klepikov, Alliance for Public Health
• Ravshan Mazhitov Director of the Plus Center Foundation
• Aibar Sultangaziev, Partnership Network Association
• Akylbek Mamaseyitov Head of the Internal Affairs Department of Osh city
• Gulgaky Mamasalieva, Director of Interbilim Osh

As well as other representatives of departments, international and non-governmental organizations.

SoS_project: The implementation of the three-year project coordinated by the Alliance for Public Health, in a consortium with the 100% Life (All-Ukrainian Network of PLWH), the Central Asian HIV’ Association and the Eurasian Key Populations Health Network, with the participation of national governmental and non-governmental organizations, regional key populations networks , international agencies and organizations, as well as technical partners, with financial support  The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria