Life-saving HIV medicine secured for thousands of Ukrainians
Aid organisations will deliver a 12-month supply of life-saving
antiretroviral medication to all HIV-positive patients living in
Ukraine, it was announced on Wednesday.
It follows reports that vital services and treatments had been disrupted, threatening the lives of thousands of people.
In 2020, Ukraine had the second highest rate of newly diagnosed HIV
infections in Europe. Over half of the new diagnoses were attributed to
heterosexual transmission, and 38 per cent from injecting drug use.
More than 50 per cent, or nearly 150,000 people, were being treated with life-saving antiretroviral treatment when Russia invaded, including roughly 2,700 children.
Without the medication, patients could die or develop resistance to
future treatment. Continuous treatment is also important for keeping
infections such as tuberculosis at bay.
Read more via The Telegraph
