01.01.2013

Strengthening the impact of PLWHA regional communities to improve access to timely, comprehensive, quality ARV treatment in EE region

Goal of the project

strengthening of PLWH community impact at local level through targeted regional efforts, capacity building and advocacy efforts for improvement of access to timely, comprehensive and quality treatment for children and adults living with HIV in Eastern Europe.

Andrei Agafonov
Project Coordinator

Target countries of the project

Armenia, Azerbaijan. Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia.

Implementation period of the project

01.01.2013 – 01.01.2014

Tasks of the project

Strengthen organizational and advocacy capacity of the ECUO and targeted PLWH & WLWH national networks to support meaningful participation of PLWH in influencing policy at regional and national levels in meeting ARV treatment universal access targets.

With technical assistance and mentoring of ECUO Secretariat, National PLWH Networks will strengthen their organizational and advocacy capacity to improve advocacy plans and facilitate advocacy events at national level and envisions running of annual regional meeting for PLWH community for coordination of efforts within framework of joint advocacy actions aimed at securing more coverage by ARV treatment in the region.

This project also includes possibility to deliver exchange visits between the countries and joint work meetings/trainings. Capacity strengthening of PLWH Networks at all levels will improve the ability to run effective advocacy for PLWH inclusion into the decision-making process and advocacy for universal access to treatment.

In targeted countries antiretroviral treatment of HIV-infection is funded from state budget at a level of 50% in average; national programs are effective, in line with “price-quality” principle and WHO protocols for European region.

It is envisioned to establish the ARV Treatment Support Working Group to achieve this task for advising the Ministry of Health and other relevant ministries re budget development for ARV medicines procurement and further advocacy work at parliamentary level.

Additionally, the following actions are planned: а) participation of PLWH organization representatives at all stages of budgetary cycle; b) monitoring of deadlines for HIV/AIDS state budget implementation; c) participation of PLWH organization representatives in development , monitoring and evaluation of the National HIV/AIDS plan including country proposal to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.