Ukraine faces a national HIV/AIDS epidemic, as many experts agree. This grim picture is worsened  by sharp increase in intra-venous drug use coupled with poor sexual behavioural culture among most Ukrainians. All this leads to the growing numbers of new HIV cases.

In order to withstand the HIV spread and maintain further control over the disease within the Ukrainian uniformed services, Ukraine needs to unite its efforts in strategic cooperation, as the participants in the first meeting of the newly-set inter-agency working group concluded in Kyiv on 9 February. The group comprises representatives from the General Staff of Armed Forces of Ukraine, Defence Ministry, State Border Guard Service and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
 
The participants looked into the ways to prevent HIV and other STIs among servicemen and officers of the law enforcement agencies. The group is tasked to develop a comprehensive strategy promoting healthy life-style commitments among the army and law enforcement agencies personnel. The meeting was conducted within the implementation of a UNDP-led project, which is funded by the European Union.
 
Speaking at the meeting, the UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Ms. Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecka, said that the working group’s creation has been a crucial move on the path to address this problem. “Most importantly, it is remarkable that we are seeing the willingness and abilities to cooperate with our project on the part of our Ukrainian counterparts – thus, UNDP and EU will offer any support for this,” she added.
 
Representative of the Ukrainian Army General Staff, major-general Oleksandr Kopanytsia, praised the international technical assistance and called to adopt a common vision of the ways to make and keep to this strong commitment at an inter-agency level across the country.
 
As the meeting participants agreed, the Working Group, headed by a representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, would perform the following tasks:

-          Develop strategic planning and policy in the field of commitment to healthy lifestyle;

-          Organise inter-agency coordination;

-          Develop joint action plans for the partner-ministries;

-          Draft ministerial legislative base;

-          Develop specialized training and methodological materials, following their introduction into the educational system and professional training within the partner-ministries.

The participants agreed to held the Group’s meetings quarterly.

More information about the Project’s activities is here: http://zdorovavarta.org.ua/default.php