Porto-Franco City

On the eve of World AIDS Day, the Odessa City Health Department held a briefing involving representatives from public organizations.

An event for free confidential HIV and viral hepatitis testing was conducted at the Administrative Services Center for all interested staff and visitors.

In Odessa, local authorities, health institutions, and non-governmental organizations effectively unite efforts to combat the spread of HIV and other socially significant diseases.

In 2017, Odessa's mayor, Gennady Trukhanov, signed the Paris Declaration, making the city part of the global Fast Track Cities initiative aimed at overcoming the HIV epidemic in major cities worldwide.

Since then, significant progress has been made in addressing HIV. Specifically, 98% of individuals living with HIV are aware of their status, compared to only 50% before signing the Paris Declaration. This achievement is largely due to extensive HIV testing coverage across all city healthcare facilities.

Among those aware of their HIV-positive status, 96% are under medical supervision and receiving antiretroviral therapy (up from 60% before the declaration was signed).

Multidisciplinary teams comprising medical professionals and social workers operate in all medical institutions, assisting individuals diagnosed with HIV to quickly access treatment and psychosocial support.

Patients at the City Center for HIV Prevention and Control receive modern antiretroviral therapy free of charge. The effectiveness of this treatment is evidenced by the fact that over 96% of these patients have an undetectable viral load (up from 86% before the declaration).

Early HIV diagnosis and adherence to prescribed antiretroviral therapy allow people living with HIV to lead full and healthy lives and have healthy children.

Additionally, programs supporting HIV-positive pregnant women and their newborns are implemented in Odessa, including free provision of lactation suppression medications and infant formula for safe artificial feeding.

Furthermore, programs for substituted maintenance therapy, harm reduction for drug users, and psychosocial rehabilitation for individuals who have chosen to abstain from psychoactive substances are also active in Odessa.

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From November 25 to 29, free anonymous HIV testing is being offered in medical facilities across Odessa for all interested individuals.

Locations and schedule of the event.