Full-scale war has changed the priorities of Ukrainian society, pushing the issue of chronic diseases into the background. While citizens’ attention is focused on security, medical experts are noting alarming trends in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Maksym Revinsky, representative of the largest patient organisation ‘100% Life’, and Olga Serdyuk, director of the Elena Pinchuk Foundation, emphasise that the combination of war, reduced funding and a poor culture of sex education creates a ‘perfect storm’ for the spread of infection.
Medical perspective: from a death sentence to a controlled condition
Maksym Revinsky, communications director at 100% Life, emphasises that HIV is now an infectious disease that is entirely controllable. According to him, although the disease is considered incurable, science has made a huge step forward: there are several reports that a molecule for treatment has already been found, and the world is awaiting the completion of research. The expert notes that with timely detection and taking one pill a day, a person can live a full life without any restrictions.
The key principle of the medical community is ‘U=U’ (undetectable = untransmittable). Revinsky explains that when a patient takes medication, the level of the virus in their blood becomes so low that they cannot transmit the infection, even through sexual contact. According to the speaker, the global goal is to achieve the UN’s ‘95-95-95’ strategy: the epidemic will be stopped when 95% of those infected know their status, 95% of them receive treatment, and 95% of those receiving treatment have a suppressed viral load.
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Social aspect: myths and culture of dialogue
Olga Serdyuk, director of the Elena Pinchuk Foundation, suggests looking at the problem more broadly, arguing that HIV is more of a social issue than a purely medical one, as the virus is the result of certain behaviours. She actively refutes the everyday fears of Ukrainians, particularly regarding the possibility of infection in beauty salons. Serdyuk emphasises that the virus cannot survive outside the human biological environment and dies within seconds in the air, so stories about infection through manicure tools or needles in cinemas are unfounded, and there have been no recorded cases.
The expert draws particular attention to the importance of sex education, which goes beyond the simple use of contraception. In her opinion, society lacks a culture of dialogue between partners, where people discuss their health, level of trust and personal boundaries before entering into a relationship. The foundation is working to ensure that HIV is no longer a ‘bitter pill’ and is presented through the prism of safety and respect for one’s partner, rather than just through fear of the disease.
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The financial crisis and new vulnerable groups
The situation is complicated by changes in funding. Maksym Revinsky notes that the withdrawal of major donors, such as the American PEPFAR programme, and cuts in Global Fund spending have led to a significant reduction in budgets for communication and advocacy. Whereas international partners previously funded testing and information campaigns to engage people, now that businesses and donors are ‘cutting marketing,’ this link is weakening. Treatment remains free and accessible, but without reminders, people are less likely to seek diagnosis.
At the same time, the patient profile is changing. Olga Serdyuk highlights a new trend that is observed both in Ukraine and worldwide. The number of infected people in the 55+ age group is growing. She explains this by the fact that older people feel young and active thanks to advances in modern medicine and pharmacology. After the end of long marriages, they start new relationships. The problem is that this generation did not receive adequate sex education in their youth and often ignores the rules of safe sex, not considering themselves to be a risk group. As a result, mortality in this group is the highest due to late referral to doctors.
Experts agree that in today’s conditions, everyone is responsible for their own health. Regular testing, condom use, and open dialogue with your partner remain the only effective means of protection at a time when the information space is overflowing with other challenges. It should be added that the state does not abandon people with HIV-positive status, as testing and treatment remain completely free for patients.
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