Odessa's Efforts in HIV Combat: Achievements and New Initiatives
On the eve of World AIDS Day, the Odessa City Council's Department of Health held a briefing with the participation of public organizations.
An event for free and confidential HIV and hepatitis testing was also held at the Administrative Services Center for all willing employees and visitors.
The city authorities of Odessa, healthcare facilities, and NGOs are effectively consolidating efforts to combat the spread of HIV and other socially significant diseases.
In 2017, Odessa's mayor, Gennady Trukhanov, signed the Paris Declaration, making Odessa part of the global Fast Track Cities initiative to combat the HIV epidemic in major cities worldwide.
Since then, significant results have been achieved in the fight against HIV, with 98% of the estimated number of people living with HIV in Odessa aware of their HIV status, compared to 50% before signing the declaration. These high rates have been achieved through widespread HIV testing across all city medical institutions.
Among people who know their HIV-positive status, 96% are under medical care and receiving antiretroviral therapy, a substantial increase from 60% before the declaration was signed.
Multidisciplinary teams, consisting of medical professionals and social workers, are working in all medical institutions to help individuals diagnosed with HIV access treatment and psychosocial support as quickly as possible.
At the City Center for the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS, patients receive modern antiretroviral therapy for free. The effectiveness of the treatment is indicated by the fact that over 96% of these patients have an undetectable viral load (compared to 86% before the declaration was signed).
Early diagnosis of HIV and adherence to the prescribed antiretroviral therapy regimen allow people living with HIV to lead quality lives and have healthy children.
Additionally, programs have been implemented in Odessa to support HIV-positive pregnant women and their newborns, including free lactation suppression medications and formula for safe artificial feeding.
Moreover, Odessa has programs for substitution therapy, harm reduction for drug users, and psychosocial rehabilitation for individuals seeking to quit using psychoactive substances.
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From November 25 to 29, free anonymous HIV testing will take place in medical institutions across Odessa for anyone interested.
Addresses and schedule of the event.
