Eastern Europe and Central Asia

A new film about HIV in the Russian Federation by YouTuber and journalist Yuri Dud is stirring people’s interest about the epidemic in the country.

Since its release on 11 February, the video has been viewed by more than 14 million people, and the number of online searches about HIV and HIV testing has skyrocketed. According to Google Trends, the number of searches on where to buy an HIV test has increased by 4000% since the launch of the video—the highest level of interest in HIV and HIV testing in the past five years.

In the film, published on his YouTube channel, Mr Dud talks to people living with HIV, activists, experts and journalists. Through his interviews, the film voices some of the taboos surrounding HIV in Russian society, including condom use, and looks into the drug use epidemic in the country, the services available for people who use drugs and the lack of sex education, among other things.

It is clear in the film that younger people still lack basic information about HIV—things like the difference between HIV and AIDS, the effectiveness of treatment or even how the virus is transmitted are still mysteries for many in the country. “You can touch people living with HIV, exchange clothes, swim in the same pool, drink from the same mug, cuddle, kiss. It's stupid to be squeamish about people living with HIV. It is much better to be squeamish about unprotected sex and drugs. These are still the two main modes of HIV transmission,” said Mr Dud.

The popularity of the film has prompted government officials to take a closer look at the HIV epidemic and response.

“Yuri Dud’s film about HIV is undoubtedly useful. It provides a lot of important information and motivates people to get tested for HIV,” said Oleg Salagai, Deputy Health Minister, in his Telegram channel. Mr Salagai emphasized how the film draws attention to the issue of the stigma endured by people living with HIV. “HIV is not a death sentence anymore. It is very important that people living with HIV have access to HIV treatment to live a healthy and fulfilling life,” he wrote.

Mr Salagai was not the only government official reacting to the video.

Alexei Kudrin, the Head of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation, promised to carry out a review of the effectiveness of HIV prevention and care programmes in the country. “This year, the Accounts Chamber will analyse the effectiveness of government resources allocated to people living with HIV in the Russian Federation,” he said.

And the first Deputy Head of the State Duma Health Committee, Fedot Tumusov, invited members of parliament to watch the film and discuss to the HIV situation in the Russian Federation. He is also planning a round-table meeting in the State Duma to explore ways to improve access to HIV prevention and treatment.

“The public response to Mr Dud’s film is incredible. However, even such a successful action is not enough. We need consistent and long-term activities to raise HIV awareness coupled with programmatic actions to ensure access to HIV testing and treatment for all,” said Alexander Goliusov, Director, a.i., of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Eastern Europe and central Asia, of which the Russian Federation is a part, has the fastest growing HIV epidemic in the world. Most new HIV infections in the Russian Federation are among key populations, including people who inject drugs, despite the well-documented power of harm reduction programmes, where available, to reduce new HIV infections—insufficient access to sterile injecting equipment and the unavailability of opioid substitution therapy are stymying efforts in the country to prevent HIV infections among people who inject drugs.

#InSpiteOf, a social media campaign featuring the right of women living with HIV in eastern Europe and central Asia to live with dignity and respect, has reached more than a million people.

Each of the #InSpiteOf Instagram stories showed a different aspect of women living with HIV and challenged the stereotypes and myths that surround the virus. The stories focused on testing and treatment, motherhood and the adoption of children by people living with HIV, disclosing one’s HIV status to partners and children, enjoying the right to work, living with HIV in custody, being a migrant living with HIV, violence and drug abuse, and contributing to HIV education and prevention.

A common feature of all the women featured in the campaign is that they were supported at a critical time in their lives by their loved ones, women’s organizations or communities and are now not only living with HIV and challenging society’s stereotypes, but helping others.

“Mutual support, women’s leadership in preventing violence, protecting rights and dignity, and combating stigma and discrimination have always been and remain one of the most important aspects in countering the HIV epidemic,” said Svetlana Moroz, Chair of the Eurasian Women's Network on AIDS.

On the eve of World AIDS Day 2019, Odnoklassniki, one of the Russian Federation’s most popular social networks, hosted a live event in support of the #InSpiteOf campaign. Celebrities such as the singer Zara, Irina Starshenbaum, Lyubov Aksyonova and others voiced their support for the campaign and read poems, accompanied by music played by Anton Sevidov of the band Tesla Boy. Vera Brezhneva, the UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, also attended the event, at which she stressed the importance of speaking honestly and openly about HIV and ensuring that people get the treatment and support they need.

“Be sure to listen and share #InSpiteOf stories! They are not only about one’s right to live with dignity, to love and to be happy. They are also about these women’s amazing power, spirit and will to live despite all odds. Each one of us has her own #InSpiteOf challenge, so let us support those who made it and let us inspire those who still doubt their power,” said Ms Brezhneva.

“Gender norms and taboos regarding sexual and reproductive life, as well as gender-based violence, increase women’s risk of HIV infection. Then, after being diagnosed with HIV, women face stigma and discrimination, hide their status and do not seek help. This vicious circle can only be broken with the women themselves, their mutual support and leadership, as well as a change in society’s attitude to HIV and the people it affects,” said Elena Kiryushina, Gender Focal Point at the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Eastern Europe and Central Asia. 

The campaign was developed by the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Eastern Europe and Сentral Asia jointly with the Eurasian Women’s Network on AIDS.

Originally published by UNESCO on 16 October 2019

On 9 October, Po Pravde Govorya, an educational show by UNESCO, UNAIDS and OK.RU, went live on air to discuss how to talk with teenagers about health and sexual relations. The Russian social network Odnoklassniki hosted Po Pravde Govorya, [Telling the Truth], a live talk show co-organized by the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (UNESCO IITE) and the UNAIDS Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (UNAIDS EECA). Experts and celebrity parents discussed ways of talking with kids and teens about complex issues such as puberty, sexual relationships, personal boundaries, HIV and AIDS, and much more. The two-hour show hosted by TV presenter and journalist Lika Dlugach, received some 1.3 million views and 1,320 likes from OK.RU users.

The talk show guests included film and theater actress Elena Borshcheva, journalist Tatiana Nikonova, family therapist Marina Travkova, obstetrician-gynecologist Tatiana Rumyantseva, Alfiya Maksutova, editor-in-chief of DVOR, a social media page for youth, Vinay Saldanha, UNAIDS Regional Director for Eastern Europe & Central Asia, and Tigran Yepoyan, UNESCO Regional Health Education Advisor.

They used examples from their personal life and professional practice to illustrate how to discuss sensitive issues with kids and teens in an atmosphere of trust and without embarrassment, how to help young people make sense of what happens to their minds and bodies as they reach the challenging period of puberty, and how to educate them, honestly and non-judgmentally, about the basics of health and relationships.

Should we talk with kids and teens about sex and if so, how to do it right?

Marina Travkova, family therapist

We should tell them the truth in a way that is adapted to their age. But I would like really like all parents to understand that they do not need their child to be a certain age or to pick a special time and place for this conversation. Like it or not, you have been communicating with your kids about sex all the time since the moment they were born, because understanding sexuality is not only about technical knowledge of where babies come from. There is a lot more to it, including how your children feel about themselves, their personal boundaries, whether or not they tolerate uncomfortable clothes, how they feel about being hungry, whether they can refuse to kiss a granny who loves them. All of these are integral parts of our sexuality. The hands of the father and mother who hold and caress the baby build the first layer of what will later become his or her sexuality. How they feel about themselves, their body, the world around, their personal boundaries. We’ve been having this conversation with our kids all the time by sending them messages about the way to live their lives, to make choices, to fall in love, and to treat their bodies. When your child approaches you with a concrete question, this is a moment not to be missed – a moment of trust. Parents who feel at a loss or afraid to say the wrong thing should remember that it’s always possible to say, “I don’t really know, to be honest,” and perhaps find and offer your child a good book on the topic. You also need to understand that today, teens live in an incredibly open world, and the average age they are introduced to pornography is 9 to 11. Indeed, many teens today say or write, “How can I explain to my mom that she needs to read something about sex?” This is the way teens take care of their parents.

What questions do teens want answered?

Tatiana Nikonova, journalist

Most of the time, teens seek answers to questions which have little to do with what adults want them to ask about. What are most parents concerned about? Pregnancy, bad company, sexually transmitted diseases. But teenagers are interested in relationships. What to do and say, how to tell a person you love them, how to survive rejection, how to say no, and how to deal with the fact that everyone knows something about you that you’d rather keep private. Very often, teens struggle with the issues of bullying and aggression. What happens on a date and what can happen besides being offered sex – this is also something they’d like to know.

How to be more confident talking with your children?

Marina Travkova, family therapist

I can share two lifehacks with parents of teenagers. The first is to speak honestly about yourself, e.g. about the first time you fell in love, the first time you said no to a boy who was in love with you and how it made you feel – all of this has great value for your child. The second lifehack is to be honest with them about your fears.

Tatiana Nikonova, journalist

Discuss TV serials with them – something is always happening there! Like, unplanned pregnancies, complex diseases, breakups, misunderstandings – these are the most common stories in TV shows and a virtually endless source of topics for discussion.

Is it true that sex education can encourage young people to have sex earlier in life?

Vinay Saldanha, UNAIDS Regional Director for EECA

Numerous studies in different countries have found that not only sexuality education programs do not lead to an earlier or more active onset of sexual life, but have the opposite effect: adolescents tend to have a later sexual debut, fewer partners, a lower incidence of risky behaviors, and they are more responsible about the use of condoms and contraception. Together, this reduces the risks of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Of course, such programs must be age-appropriate, evidence-based and, most importantly, they must be timely, i.e. before children become adults, otherwise it will be too late. This is what is said in the International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education developed by several UN organization led by UNESCO.

Why do we need to talk with children about HIV if most people who get infected are adults?

Vinay Saldanha, UNAIDS Regional Director for EECA

In EECA countries alone, dozens of thousands of children and adolescents live with HIV. Therefore, we cannot say that this disease does not concern children. But it is essential to have a high-quality sexuality education program to make sure that a discussion of these complex issues brings positive outcomes.

What can we do if a kid does not believe that HIV exists, because they have read on the internet that “HIV is a hoax”?

Tatiana Rumyantseva, obstetrician-gynecologist

Give this kid a link to the website of the World Health Organization, to other sites which discuss infections. There are many organizations of people living with HIV who work to help others. You can take the kid to such an organization and let him or her meet people there. This approach might work well with someone who responds to emotions more than to words.

How to talk about HIV and not scare people?

Tatiana Rumyantseva, obstetrician-gynecologist

This information serves as a warning. Speaking about infections, I would say that some of them cannot be cured but require lifelong treatment. It makes good sense to plant a grain of concern for their future in young people’s minds. We usually spell out the dangers which we want to protect children from, and the same should apply to sex.

What source of information would a teenager trust the most?

Elena Borshcheva, actress

Bloggers. All teens are watching bloggers. Good educational programs for teens on TV are lacking, so young people learn a lot from bloggers. It makes sense to share essential information through their idols.

Recently, I came across a book and read it before giving it to my daughter. The author is American, and some realities are different from ours, but the concept of personal boundaries in relationships not only between a boy and a girl but also between friends is very well explained. And I thought, “Where was this book when I was a child?” It explains, plain and simple, how to act in certain situations, how to check what’s right, and what to say.

We all want relationships in the first place, warm relationships in which we need and love each other, and sex is part of such relationships. But many people – especially young people — do not quite understand why sex is special and whether a girl can refuse a guy, although it is her right. They need to learn how to tell real love from being taken advantage of in a relationship.

Can websites help parents in educating their children, and how can we teach children to safely navigate the diverse resources?

Tigran Yepoyan, UNESCO Regional Health Education Advisor

Absolutely yes. There is an increasing number of such resources available for parents and for teenagers. As far as teenagers are concerned, media literacy is the key, and UNESCO has been working to help countries educate teachers about media literacy, so that they may teach their students. Here are some basic lifehacks: it is essential to help children develop an ability to critically assess and analyze information, never take it for granted but double-check and look at the source of information: who created the website, who are the authors of posted materials, whether they provide links to primary sources and refer to relevant experts and research findings; ask yourself whether the main purpose of the website is to provide objective information or to impose a particular behavior pattern or lifestyle, manipulate the reader, or sell a product or service.

About DVOR, an online community for teens

Osh, Kyrgyzstan, has become the latest city to sign the Paris Declaration to end the AIDS epidemic in cities, becoming the second city in the country to commit to reaching the 90–90–90 targets by the end of 2020.

“We sign this declaration because we realize that large cities are the engine of HIV,” said Kadyrov Nurbek Suyunbaevich, Deputy Mayor of Osh. “Thanks to effective HIV testing and treatment, we can control the epidemic and people can live a healthy and fulfilling life. The city of Osh is taking steps to end AIDS and we are already allocating funds for HIV prevention.”

“UNAIDS is pleased that Osh has become a Fast-Track city. By signing the Paris Declaration, Osh will also strengthen health systems in the city,” said Meerim Sarybaeva, the UNAIDS Country Manager in Kyrgyzstan.

Osh is one of the oldest cities in central Asia, with a population of almost 300 000 people. It was one of the first places in central Asia to be affected by HIV, owing to the drug trafficking routes that passed through the city. From 2005 to 2007, there was a severe outbreak of nosocomial HIV infections among children in the city. According to government statistics, there are more than 1100 people living with HIV in Osh.

Osh implemented some of the first HIV prevention programs in Kyrgyzstan. The city has expanded its HIV rapid testing programme for people at higher risk of HIV, launched a treatment adherence programme for people living with HIV based on mobile technology and is scaling-up the coverage of opioid substitution therapy. 

“This is an important political step, which requires that we mobilize the necessary resources, both human and financial, to ensure effective HIV prevention programmes for all key populations,” said Aybar Sultangaziev, Director of the Partnership Network Association

Since the launch of the Fast-Track cities initiative on 1 December 2014, more than 350 cities and municipalities around the world have signed the Paris Declaration. The declaration offers cities not only tools to end AIDS but also a platform to address social inclusion and public health.

Most people in the capital city of Belarus become infected with HIV from injecting drugs. As a result, a nongovernmental organization in Minsk and the government have responded with HIV mobile testing clinics, drop-in centres and peer counselling to establish trust with people who often shy away from official health services.

Last year, more than 10 000 people visited the three mobile clinics positioned around the city of Minsk offering HIV testing, care and support services. Of 4000 people tested who inject drugs, more than 500 tested positive for HIV.

Word-of-mouth lets people know the mobile clinics are parked up. Positive Movement, the Minsk-based nongovernmental organization that operates the clinics, also lists their locations on its website. In the van-sized clinics you can get an HIV test, talk to a doctor or simply drink tea and chat with peer counsellors.

Positive Movement staff members have first-hand knowledge of issues affecting their clients. Of the 200 employees working there, more than three quarters have been affected by drug use and/or HIV.

“At first, employees were clients, now they are board members,” says Irina Statkevich, the head of Positive Movement’s board. “We believe that harm reduction works and that we can defeat HIV infection,” she says. "If we decide that this service is needed by our customers, we will do everything to get it!”

Above, Positive Movement’s office

Eight years ago, when she started working at the organization, she explains that it was impossible to utter the words needle and syringe exchange programme. “We had to do things incognito.”

Now they have drop-in centres open all day that not only provide clean needles and syringes but also food, HIV testing and a place to wash as well as legal and medical counselling.  Peer-to-peer consultant Julia Stoke likens the centres to safe-havens.

Above, Julia Stoke, peer consultant in Drop-in centre

“This is an island of security,” she says. “A person who uses drugs has a need for safety first, then trust, and then a range of services."

Vyacheslav Samarin agrees. As a social worker at one of the drop-in centres, he explains that people who use drugs often face difficult situations like a loss of housing, a lack of documents, poor health and sometimes nothing to eat and nowhere to sleep. “In many cases,” Mr. Samarin says, “One problem often leads to another.”

Above, Vyacheslav Samarin, a social worker at a drop-in centre in Minsk

“Many are in denial about their health,” he continues. Many clients fear stigma and have different priorities. He says it’s key to support people and not let them feel defeated and abandoned.

“At the very beginning, people do not want to believe their diagnosis, so we are careful to talk to them about starting treatment,” says the red-haired social worker.

Over the years he has noticed changes. "Today there are more treatment methods and the staff listen much more to people living with HIV.” He says that relationships between patients and doctors are much improved.

Also, the government of Belarus has been much more supportive of the work.

Tatiana Migal from the ministry of health confirms this. “By working on HIV prevention among people who use drugs and supporting people living with HIV for nine years, Positive Movement has not only gained considerable experience in this field but has also contributed significantly to reducing HIV infection among people who inject drugs.”

Ms Migal stresses the importance of peer counselling, social support centres and syringe exchange programmes as well as methadone substitution therapy.

“According to estimates by the World Health Organization and UNAIDS harm reduction programmes will help overcome the HIV epidemic in Belarus,” she says.

At the 2nd European Games 2019 taking place in Minsk, Belarus, athletes and spectators are receiving information about HIV, free access to condoms and the possibility of taking a free rapid HIV test. 

Thanks to a partnership between UNAIDS, the directorate of the games, the ministry of health of Belarus, the parliament of Belarus, civil society organizations and the United Nations country team, Zero Discrimination zones offering HIV services have been established throughout the site hosting the games.

The main #zerodiscrimination pavilion was opened by the UNAIDS Ambassador for the European Games, Alexei Yagudin, the world champion figure skater and olympic gold medallist.

“The 2nd European Games are free from discrimination for everyone – regardless of your nationality, age, gender, sexual orientation or HIV status,” said Mr. Yagudin.  

The UNAIDS Zero Discrimination zones are placed around the official fan zone, the main sports stadium and in the athletes’ village. The zones are staffed by more than 90 dedicated volunteers, mostly doctors and nurses, who provide HIV information, HIV counselling and rapid testing and access to free condoms. Ahead of the games, UNAIDS had also provided extensive training on HIV and sexual and reproductive health to hundreds of volunteers.

In addition, the national TV Channel ONT, in close collaboration with UNAIDS, produced two public service announcements on zero discrimination and equal opportunity for all. They have been broadcast in more than 20 public venues in Minsk, on all national TV channels and during live broadcasts of the games.

Carrying the official torch of the games, the “Flame of Peace”, UNAIDS regional director Vinay Saldanha said “I am proud to carry this Flame of Peace on behalf of UNAIDS and on behalf of people who deserve to live free from discrimination, including people living with HIV that are competing in and visiting these games in Minsk.”

The 2nd European Games opened officially on 21 June and will continue until 30 June. More than 4000 athletes from 50 countries are participating in the Games, competing in 15 sports across 23 disciplines, 8 of which will also serve as qualifying events for the Olympics Games 2020 in Tokyo.

Ukraine has announced that it is to allocate $16 million to the country’s AIDS response for 2019-20, which will sustain and expand HIV prevention and support services for key populations as well as care and support services for people living with HIV.

The procurement of HIV services for key populations and people living with HIV from suppliers, including non-governmental organizations, will be managed by the Ministry of Health’s Centre for Public Health, using public procurement procedures. The new process will begin in July.

The move is an important part of Ukraine’s transition from donor funding to a nationally funded AIDS response.  

"Ukraine has taken an important step towards moving from international funding to a nationally coordinated policy and ownership,” said Vladimir Kurpita, director of the Centre for Public Health at the Ministry of Health.

The list of services covered by the new policy includes targeted HIV information services and consultations, harm reduction programmes, including needle exchange and distribution, the distribution of condoms and lubricants, HIV testing and screening for tuberculosis. Key populations prioritized include gay men and other men who have sex with men, sex workers, and people who inject drugs. HIV care and support services include strengthening treatment adherence and retention under medical supervision and the involvement of partners of people living with HIV in health care services.

Mr Kurpita promised a smooth transition and said that the government would procure quality-assured services from local non-governmental organizations with the relevant experience and capacity to deliver.

“Nobody who was reached through prevention, support and care services that were funded by external donors should ever be cut off from the transition to government support,” he said.

The head of the All Ukrainian Network of People Living with HIV, 100% Life, Dima Sherembey, encouraged everyone to engage in the process.

"If you are an NGO service provider, engage in bidding; if you are a representative of the donor community in Ukraine, motivate your partners and subcontractors on the ground; and if you have resources and knowledge, provide technical support and assistance to bidders so that they can be successful recipients and implementers of this important wave of government funding,” he said.

UNAIDS country director Roman Gailevich welcomed Ukraine’s commitment to increase domestic funding for the AIDS response.

“We are entering a new era of the national response to HIV in Ukraine,” he said. “We hope Ukraine will not only show that this new model of procurement of HIV services is viable, but that it will also serve as an example to other countries in the region.”

Ruslan Codrenu, the Acting Mayor of Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, signed the Paris Declaration to end the AIDS epidemic in cities on 31 May. He committed the city to achieving the 90–90–90 targets by 2020, whereby 90% of all people living with HIV know their HIV status, 90% of people who know their HIV-positive status are on treatment and 90% of people on treatment have suppressed viral loads. The city will specifically focus on marginalized and vulnerable people and on ending stigma and discrimination.

“Achieving 90–90–90 will be difficult, but it is never too late to start making the necessary changes to improve people’s lives and health. Today, the city authorities commit to significantly increasing the coverage of the residents of Chisinau with HIV prevention, testing and treatment services, with the aim of ending the AIDS epidemic and concentrating efforts on programmes for key populations,” said Mr Codrenu.

Mr Codrenu said he expects that a new municipal HIV control programme for 2019–2020 will soon be adopted by the city council. The programme will focus on additional HIV testing and treatment for approximately 750 people living with HIV and the provision of HIV prevention services for key populations.

“Chisinau must move quickly, not only to reach 90–90–90, but also to eliminate discrimination against people living with HIV and key populations, which remains a significant barrier. In this struggle, our city is not alone. Chisinau is supported by a team of regional and national leaders who are willing to share their expertise,” said Svetlana Plamadeala, UNAIDS Country Manager for the Republic of Moldova.

Chisinau already supports a range of HIV prevention programmes for key populations, including harm reduction and opioid substitution therapy programmes for people who inject drugs, rapid HIV testing and condom distribution for sex workers and their clients and condom distribution among gay men and other men who have sex with men. However, it is planned that with the adoption of the new municipal HIV control programme, the quality, coverage and impact of the programmes will be significantly enhanced.

Chisinau is the seventh city in eastern Europe and central Asia to sign the Paris Declaration, which since 2014 has been signed by more than 300 cities worldwide.

The signing of the Paris Declaration in Chisinau is the most recent result of a long history of effective cooperation between national, state and nongovernmental organizations, regional networks representing key populations and international organizations

According to government estimates, there are about 3200 people living with HIV in Chisinau.

“Today, we witness what can be achieved through political will. It is of paramount importance to us that the Paris Declaration is not another declarative statement, but is followed by the adoption of the municipal HIV programme, with specific and measurable goals and roles and a budget,” said Ruslan Poverga, General Director of the Positive Initiative.

Iryna Borushek recently passed away in Kyiv, Ukraine, after a long illness. With her passing, the international AIDS community has lost one of the strongest and most dedicated activists and leaders.

One of the highlights of my career in the AIDS response and my work with UNAIDS has been the honour to know and work with Ms Borushek.

For the past 20 years, she was one of the most articulate and passionate civil society activists, advancing the national AIDS response in Ukraine and inspiring AIDS responses across eastern Europe and central Asia.

Beginning in the late 1990s, Ms Borushek was one of the earliest activists who defended the rights of people living with HIV at a time when an HIV-positive diagnosis was tantamount to a death sentence. People living with HIV were just beginning to learn about access to treatment, and Ms Borushek was among only a few people in the region who openly disclosed their HIV status.

For Ms Borushek and other early activists, those years were very challenging. It required incredible bravery, faith in one’s strength and a fierce optimism that speaking up and acting up will save lives and change the future. Ms Borushek had all of those qualities and thankfully she demanded all of us to demonstrate at least some of those same qualities every day.

In 2001, she helped to found the All-Ukrainian Network of People Living with HIV. Thanks to her tireless energy and commitment to community activism, the All-Ukrainian Network of People Living with HIV is now one of the most powerful civil society organizations, not only in Ukraine, but globally.

Throughout her career she continued her studies, first at the Odesa University of Economics, then at the Socium School, as well as through study opportunities and internships in Poland, Germany and the United States of America on how to implement evidence-informed programmes for substitution therapy, health systems strengthening and support for people living with HIV, in particularly for injecting drug users.

Ms Borushek was recognized as one of the brightest activists in this new area, uniting civil society leadership with governance and the urgent, life-saving scale-up of antiretroviral therapy.

Ms Borushek quickly became an international symbol of Ukraine’s bold HIV activism. Together with Vladimir Zhovtyak, she participated in the first United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, in June 2001. In subsequent years, she took a leadership role in many international AIDS forums. As a member of the eastern Europe and central Asia delegation to the board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria from 2004 to 2009, she supported and advocated for the Global Fund’s first grants to eastern Europe and central Asia.

Ms Borushek’s professional focus was devoted to the establishment of a new, people-centred strategy on HIV in Ukraine, the roll-out of national programmes for antiretroviral therapy and substitution therapy and HIV care and support programmes implemented by the All-Ukrainian Network of People Living with HIV and its partners in Ukraine. Every day, Ms Borushek insisted that people living with HIV should not only be fully represented in the decision-making process, but also be engaged in the implementation of programmes and services.

In 2007, she was presented with an award for leadership, partnership and commitment to the national response to HIV in Ukraine. In 2007, Ms Borushek also received an award for international women’s leadership in the response to HIV at the International Women's Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.

I will always remember as her as one of the most passionate activists who always found the time to be a precious friend. Her vision and energy continue to live on in her daughter and granddaughter, in her friends and colleagues across the world and, of course, in the principles and programmes to which she dedicated her life.

Ms Borushek’s funeral took place on 26 November in Kyiv. Words of support for loved ones and condolences can be sent to the All-Ukrainian Network of People Living with HIV.

info@network.org.ua

By Vinay P. Saldana

Director, UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Eastern Europe and Central Asia