Ensuring Lifesaving Medications Reach Ukrainians Living With HIV
bombardment of Ukraine, it’s easy to forget that those with chronic diseases have been cut off from their lifesaving medications.There’s been somewhat of an inability of health care providers to reach local communities in the country because of the destruction and dangers precipitated by the war.
For that reason, among its other duties, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), an independent agency of the U.S.
federal government that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance, is leading the effort to collect and distribute HIV medications to people living with HIV in Ukraine.“Together, in partnership with 100% Life, the largest patient organization in Ukraine, we are working towards supplying and distributing HIV medications to HIV+ people in Ukraine,” says Dr.
Atul Gawande, global health administrator for USAID. “Because of the destruction and isolation that brings to so many people, we are ordering and supplying a year’s worth of HIV treatment medication, and with 100% Life, distributing it in regions across the country.”100% Life has been a longtime partner to USAID and helps the organization connect the dots in order to create an effective supply chain, Gawande says. “There are processes in place even though almost 90 percent of the country has been closed or under attack,” he says. “We’ve been primarily successful in the western part of the country, which is the safest part at this time.”Ukraine has the second-largest HIV epidemic in the region with nearly 250,000 people living with HIV, many of whom do not know they are positive, according to USAID.
