On 15 June in premises of the Sumy Regional Branch ACO “All-Ukrainian Network of PLWH” was held a session of Sumy Regional Council communities (RCC), which wasattended by activists representing vulnerable groups of IDUs, former prisoners, MSM, sex workers and people living with HIV.
Regional Coordinator of the NGO “Gay-alliance” in Sumy region, Olga Belenetska has informed the participants about adoption of the regional program on HIV/AIDS (program approved Sumy Regional Council session on 22 May 2015) and incorporation of proposals from the vulnerable communities that have been submitted earlier. All participants agreed that the next task of community council will be monitoring allocation of planned funds from the regional budget for program activities.
Also at the meeting were discussed key aspects the provision of services for HIV/AIDS in Ukraine for the development of strategy for the Global Fund at 2017-202. Activists from the IDU community made a proposal of measures concerning actualization the issue of IDUs to access rehabilitation services in the territory of Sumy region.
At the end of the meeting unanimously decided to present:
1. To plan and to conduct monitoring the allocation of planned funds from the regional budget for the activities of the regional target program against HIV/AIDS on 2015-2018.
2. Conduct a round table in order to create alternatives to overcome the addiction and the prevention of HIV infection among IDUs.
For reference:
Regional Council of communities (RCC) – a consultative and advisory body, that includes leaders and activists of the most groups vulnerable to HIV, which aims to significantly strengthen the capacity of communities through joint advocacy actions, including to increase access to medical and social services to vulnerable communities in the region.
Work on capacity building and capability of vulnerable communities implemented by NGO “Gay-alliance” in the direction “Social mobilization, strengthening of ties, cooperation and coordination” among vulnerable groups IDU/OST, sex workers, MSM, former prisoners in 5 regions of Ukraine (Lviv, Vinnytsia, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Sumy), with the financial support of ACO “All-Ukrainian Network of PLWH” and ICF “International HIV/AIDS Alliance in Ukraine”.
