AHF Ukraine: Deputy Mayor of Kiev Takes Rapid Test for HIV at the Opening of the First Free and Confidential HIV Testing Point: “AHF Checkpoint.kiev”

KIEV, Ukraine–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The first free and confidential HIV testing point in Eastern Europe,
“AHF Checkpoint.kiev,” has opened earlier this week in Kiev
accompanied by a mobile testing van.

Launch of “AHF Checkpoint.kiev” was organized by a representative
office of AIDS Healthcare Foundation in Ukraine (AHF
Ukraine). The main purpose of the opening is to increase access to
HIV testing for different populations. The “Checkpoint” format provides
testing services for certain groups – men who have sex with men (MSM)
and injecting drug users, as well as other categories of the population.

Information support of “AHF Checkpoint.kiev” is implemented
through the simultaneous launch of the website www.freeHIVtest.org.ua,
where the people of Ukraine can find out the location of the nearest HIV
testing point in 12 regions of the country.

“As part of the European HIV testing week, we have opened the first
community-based testing point for various groups of key affected
populations. Testing in our checkpoint is confidential, free, and most
importantly, takes place in a friendly atmosphere. All over the world
AHF uses all possible means to promote and provide rapid testing. This
includes working with both medical professionals and the community. We
do everything possible to both encourage people to find out their HIV
status and to remove psychological fears of medical institutions. The
mobile van will help testing get to even the most remote areas of the
city and also could be utilized at public events. In this way people
from different groups, including men who have sex with men and injecting
drug users can get tested, and the test itself becomes closer to
people,” said Anna Zakowicz, Deputy Chief of the European
Bureau of AHF.

HIV testing is conducted using rapid tests (result is provided in 15
minutes) on a model that AHF promotes and supports in 37 countries. In
addition to HIV testing services visitors of the checkpoint are provided
with “peer to peer” counseling, have access to free condoms and advice
on safe sexual behavior. Those whose test result is positive are linked
to medical care and support in government clinics of Ukraine.

“Ukraine is the leader in Europe in the spread of HIV. According to
national estimates about 220 thousand people in Ukraine live with HIV.
Only 132,000 of them are registered, which means that about 40% of
people do not know that they are HIV positive. People still mistakenly
believe that if they do not inject drugs or are not involved in sex
work, HIV does not affect them. Unfortunately, HIV spreads among the
other groups. Statistics show that sexual transmission of HIV is already
73% of new cases in Ukraine. Therefore, it is important for everyone to
know their status, and testing for HIV is the first step in addressing
the HIV / AIDS epidemic,” said Natalia Nizova, General
Director of the Center for Public Health in Ukraine.

To support the work of “AHF Checkpoint.kiev” are the
representative of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, General Director of
the Center for Public Health in Ukraine; Mykola Povoroznyk, deputy head
of Kyiv City State Administration; and Jacek Tyshko, director of UNAIDS
in Ukraine, who performed a rapid test for HIV at the opening ceremony.

Mykola Y. Povoroznyk, Deputy Head of Kyiv City State
Administration said that, “The opening of the checkpoint is
implemented within the framework of the Paris Declaration signed earlier
by the mayor of Kyiv, Mr. Vitali Klitschko. It is accelerating actions
to overcome the AIDS epidemic in major cities to meet the strategic
targets of the UNAIDS Fast Track 90 90 90 Initiative. Thus, the Ukraine
capital sets the example to other regions in the fight against HIV.”

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS
organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over
659,000 individuals in 37 countries worldwide in the U.S., Africa, Latin
America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. To learn
more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org,
find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth
and follow us @aidshealthcare.

Contacts

AHF Europe
Anna Zakowicz, Deputy Bureau Chief
+31 6
28744655
anna.zakowicz@aidshealth.org
or
Denis
Godlevskiy, Advocacy and marketing manager in Russia and Ukraine
+7 911 1101310
denis.godlevskiy@aidshealth.org
or
AHF
(U.S.)
Ged Kenslea, Senior Director, Communications
+1
323-308-1833 (work)
+1 323-791-5526 (mobile)
gedk@aidshealth.org