Providing HIV and Humanitarian Services for Key Groups of MSM in the Western and Central Regions of Ukraine

The Project was created and works for men who have sex with men (MSM) who were forced to leave their homes due to the war – in particular from the south and east of Ukraine, where fighting is ongoing. Many of them now live in the western and central regions of the country – in cities where they have never been before, among people who are not always ready to accept “others”. Such cities of work have become Lviv, Uzhhorod and Ivano-Frankivsk, as well as the capital of Ukraine – Kyiv. The project works in conjunction with the GETTEST information campaign to popularize HIV and STI testing services among MSM.

Our clients face a double challenge:

• First, they belong to the LGBTQI+ community, which is often ignored or misunderstood.
• Second, they are displaced people. That is, people who had to leave everything and start from scratch.

This makes them especially vulnerable. In new cities, it can be difficult to find a non-judgemental doctor. It is even more difficult to seek help when you feel that you may not be accepted. Therefore, many remain without testing, without knowing their HIV status and without access to treatment.

The project helps to change this. The Organization’s social workers work in each of the cities.

We create safe conditions where you can:

• get a free and anonymous HIV test;
• get a consultation;
• get a referral to a pre-exposure prophylaxis project;
• get support;
• if necessary, start treatment;
• learn more about health, rights, and where to seek help in a new city.

If a confirmatory result is needed, clients receive support from medical institutions, where we have a partnership with doctors in health care institutions who are friendly to the community and do not ask “unnecessary” questions.

This project is about care, support and the fact that even in difficult times you can take care of yourself with the support of social workers.