More than a million HIV tests and increased access to antiretroviral therapy: results of a 7-year intersectoral HIV/AIDS project

These results were announced on 5 June 2024 during the final conference of the HealthLink project ‘Accelerating the HIV/AIDS Response in Ukraine’. The project lasted seven years and became the largest healthcare response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ukraine. 

HealthLink's key achievements in Ukraine included support for healthcare reform to improve access to HIV testing and treatment, a large-scale communication campaign about the disease and the importance of treatment, training on anti-stigma and the latest testing methods for healthcare workers, enrolling tens of thousands of patients in treatment, and investments in the capacity of healthcare facilities to overcome the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and full-scale invasion. 

"This is one of the largest projects in the healthcare sector. In 2017, it started as a planned HIV project, and with the new challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and full-scale war, HealthLink quickly expanded its activities to support the capacity of the healthcare system in times of turbulence. This project has truly become a pillar for the sustainability of patient care, hospitals and doctors. This is an example of an extremely effective partnership with international donors, the public sector and the state,’ said Ihor Kuzin, Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine, Chief State Sanitary Doctor.

The project was implemented by the country's largest patient organisation, CO ‘100% LIFE’, in partnership with the ICF ‘Alliance for Public Health’ with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID's investment in the project amounted to USD 37 million. THE USAID INVESTMENT IN THE PROJECT AMOUNTED TO USD 37 MILLION.

"The HealthLink project contributed to the achievement of the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goal in Ukraine, aimed at ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030. The project has developed innovative platforms and practices that have helped improve the quality of testing and access to health services and brought the government of Ukraine closer to achieving these goals. ‘Through HealthLink, USAID continues to fight to ensure that people with HIV have access to essential health care, even in the face of service disruptions and security concerns,’ said James Hope, USAID Mission Director to Ukraine. 

As part of the project, 1 million people have been tested for HIV, including 26,000 people who have learned their HIV status - one in three newly diagnosed people in Ukraine. 96,000 people tested for HIV were also tested for hepatitis and 6,700 for syphilis. 22,000 people with HIV gained access to antiretroviral therapy for the first time, and 381 returned to treatment. Also, 1,700 people received PrEP for the first time. 

"On behalf of all those people in Ukraine who have been diagnosed with HIV, I would like to express my gratitude to the entire wide network of partners of the US Embassy in Ukraine, PEPFAR, the HealthLink project and everyone involved in its implementation for their support and the opportunity to introduce sustainable changes in approaches to combating the spread of HIV. Today, 126,000 Ukrainians taking ART can lead a normal life, and this became possible, in particular, thanks to the project,’ said Dmytro Sherembey, Chairman of the Coordination Council of the CO “100% Life”. 

From the beginning, the project was based on a partnership between the Ministry of Health, the Public Health Centre, the National Health Service, us - CO ‘100% Life’ - and the Public Health Alliance. As well as 27 NGOs that set up regional processes. 

More than 600 healthcare facilities joined the project, from large regional dispensaries to district healthcare facilities that had never worked with rapid HIV tests before. People were able to get tested even in small towns where they had not previously had the opportunity to do so. In addition, 152,000 oral tests and more than 76,000 safe boxes were distributed during the project, which made it possible to reach the groups that are most difficult to reach with medical care and to achieve the project's goals during the quarantine restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"As part of the HealthLink project, we had the opportunity, among other things, to strengthen the communication campaign, which reached a huge number of Ukrainians. Thanks to our cooperation, millions of our citizens have learned about the possibilities of receiving free medical services,’ explains Natalia Husak, Head of the National Health Service of Ukraine. 

As part of the HealthLink project, more than 10,000 healthcare workers were trained to counter stigma and 14 million Ukrainians interacted with the communication campaign or read HIV-related materials. This helped doctors to become less afraid to offer testing to patients, and patients to seek testing. In addition, the involvement of people with HIV in treatment has increased significantly, which is critical to curbing the epidemic, as only taking therapy can enable patients to maintain their health and lead a normal life, minimising the risk of spreading the virus.