Health Protection Amid War: Combating HIV and Tuberculosis in Odesa
On the eve of World AIDS Day, celebrated on December 1, a significant meeting was held in Odesa with representatives from the City Center for HIV/AIDS Prevention and NGOs.
Despite the ongoing war, Odesa is ensuring the stability of medical services in combating HIV and tuberculosis.
Free HIV testing is available in all city hospitals, primary health care centers, consulting and diagnostic centers, and maternity hospitals, as well as in the "Trust" offices of the City AIDS Center. Rapid tests provide results in just 10-15 minutes.
Patients who test positive are referred to the City AIDS Center for further examination and treatment. High-quality antiretroviral therapy is provided free of charge, allowing individuals with HIV to live long, fulfilling lives without posing a risk to partners and having healthy children.
In the first 10 months of 2025, 34,792 patients were tested for HIV in Odesa, revealing 301 new positive cases. Out of these tests, 19,140 patients were examined by primary care doctors.
Tuberculosis screening is conducted by family doctors through questionnaires. This year, primary care physicians identified 702 suspected cases of tuberculosis, with 542 confirmed cases of lung tuberculosis.
Participants discussed ways to enhance cooperation between medical institutions and NGOs for more effective referral of HIV-positive patients to specialists.
The medical staff of the City AIDS Center also conducted free anonymous testing for HIV and viral hepatitis for all interested employees and visitors of the Administrative Services Center.
