« Promoting Universal Access in Eastern Europe »

Recently, the Levi Strauss Foundation has confirmed that EATG will be receiving a one year grant for the project “Promoting Universal Access (UA) to prevention, treatment, care and support in Eastern Europe”.

Eastern and Central European countries demonstrate a lack of public, accurate information on HIV/AIDS; therefore it is the EATG’s priority to supply this kind of information to patients, care takers, social workers and counsellors, health professionals, etc. Eastern Europe - especially Russia and Ukraine have a high prevalence of HIV infection and low levels of knowledge among affected individuals, particularly among the intravenous drug users. Activists, patients and their supporters often face barriers when trying to advocate for better access to treatment.

At the beginning of 2009 EATG developed a strategy on capacity building within its membership and network and identified Eastern Europe as a priority. Consulted partners from the region expressed their interest in developing HIV treatment and advocacy skills and wish to participate in a training program. Throughout 2009 EATG created a pool of trainers, developed a training module for treatment literacy and treatment advocacy, and provided 4 trainings.

After the strategic meeting at the end of 2009 at the EECAAC meeting (Eastern Europe and Central Asia Aids Conference, 28-30 October, Moscow) that aimed to draft an Eastern states strategy for its work in this region, EATG started a step-by-step approach to further reach out to the East and involve more people from the region. 2010 would be the year of creating such a longer-term strategy.

EATG also submitted a project to the Levi Strauss Foundation that focuses on the key needs of the Eastern region by improving the capacity of PLWHA and their health care providers regarding HIV/AIDS treatment literacy and by providing advocacy on highly vulnerable populations in Eastern Europe. Their support allows us to start the project in January 2010. The program aims at giving continuity to our training activities in 2010 and actively reaching out to the East. The trainings that started in 2009 would be continued throughout 2010 and the trainers’ pool and training centre would be further consolidated. A 4 days training will take place in Kiev, Ukraine in June/July 2010 on treatment literacy and treatment advocacy.

For further information, please contact Ana Lucia Cardoso, Training and Communications Coordinator.