Impact:

The Government of Ukraine, in collaboration with civil society partners, developed a Road Map to Universal Access for HIV Prevention, Treatment and Care by 2010, with technical and advocacy support from UNICEF and its UN partners. The document emphasises children and adolescents as an especially vulnerable group and the need to provide them with special consideration in prevention, treatment, care and support. 

UNICEF supported the government in developing and implementing the first National Programme Prevention of HIV Transmission from Mother to Child for 2001-2003. Today UNICEF is building the capacity of health care providers. An evaluation of the National Programme in 2007 found that it had helped to reduce transmission by two thirds, from 27 per cent in 2000 to 8 per cent in 2006.

To respond to the needs of children and families affected by HIV, UNICEF has supported community-based Day Care Centre models in Kiev, Odessa, Kherson, Mykolayiv and Krivyi Rig and Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The centres provide HIV-positive children with a place where they can communicate with other children, receive care and prepare for school. Parents receive advice in the Centres on how to care for their children, as well as psychological, legal and social support.

In light of most-at-risk adolescents being at the core of the deteriorating HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ukraine, UNICEF and the Government of Ukraine pursued a new focus vis-a-vis most-at-risk adolescents (MARA) and HIV, thereby covering a major gap in the national HIV prevention response and building a sound database and evidence-based approaches targeting MARA. Knowledge base on MARA was created; strengthened with the understanding of their behaviour, behavioural determinants and service coverage. MARA issues have been included in the 2009-2013 National Programme on HIV/AIDS and the national M&E system.

UNICEF supported the HIV Education interactive programme provided in the juvenile detention facilities.

UNICEF was instrumental in ensuring that HIV-prevention is included in the Secondary School Education State Standard.

Drug education programme was developed to prevent alcohol and drug abuse among students of grades 1-12 in Ukrainian schools. The programme will be further integrated into the wider educational system through an education curriculum of class-masters.

UNICEF’s pilot project on HIV prevention among injecting drug users has been recognised as a success by the government and is being expanded across the country. 216 needle exchange programmes for injecting drug users are now operating.

UNICEF helped to integrate youth friendly services into primary level paediatric polyclinic services and the Social Services for Family, Children and Youth. Today there is a network of 50 Youth Friendly Clinics operating in the country  Some 400 professionals are trained and are currently implementing “youth-friendly” techniques at their workplaces. The quality standards and evaluation criteria for services in youth friendly clinics (YFCs) have been drafted including certification procedure and staff excellence guidance.