The
first case of HIV infection in Ukraine was registered only a
year after the most well-known nuclear accident in the world,
the Chernobyl tragedy. As the saying goes, “When it rains,
it pours”.
Today Ukraine shows the most rapid spread of HIV in Eastern
Europe, more than 1,4% of Ukrainians are living with HIV, including
over 10 000 children.
After 15 years of independence, the country has changed dramatically.
For some decades, young people have received information at
school about prevention and safe sexual behaviour with the belief
that education on HIV/AIDS and drugs can change their behaviour.
However, the increasing rate of infection shows that making
people aware of risks does not necessarily guarantee safe behaviour.
Therefore, ‘peer-to-peer’ education involving former
drug users and people living with HIV as peer trainers for Red
Cross volunteers is of vital importance.
After completing the drug rehabilitation process, Stanislav
decided to become involved in peer education. He saw it as part
of his therapy. In addition to peer education sessions with
schoolchildren and students, he is also involved in social theatre.
He is living with HIV and openly stands up to talk about his
situation to help his peers.
“Although my diagnosis could be kept confidential, I come
to the class, and reveal my status to protect and secure other
young people, not to let HIV and AIDS enter their life,”
he says.
The Red Cross also takes an active part in fighting stigma and
discrimination towards people living with HIV by organizing
international sporting competitions like an annual arm-wrestling
tournament under the slogan “You can’t get AIDS
by handshaking” or an international poster competition
“Anti-AIDS Ukraine’ showing more than 230 works
from 15 countries.
Anti-stigma promotion was also held at the famous Kazantip music
festival in Crimea, where young party-goers could get information
on HIV prevention, condoms and pass a test on HIV and AIDS.
This year, World AIDS Day in Ukraine will focus on linking and
reinforcing Red Cross activities on HIV. Intensive peer-to-peer
courses will be held before December 1 in Ukrainian schools
aiming at raising awareness and changing attitudes.
Schoolchildren and students will be motivated and invited to
join the Candle March, an annual event of solidarity with people
living with HIV.
Visitors of Red Cross ‘peer-to-peer’ sessions will
also write their promises to fight HIV and AIDS, which will
be given back to them next year to remind them about our personal
duty to keep promises aiming at prevention of HIV and promotion
of tolerance towards people living with HIV.
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Poster
competition "AntiAIDS' (Kharkiv, Ukraine 2006) -
Maja Wolna "AntiAIDS Ukraine" - No one should
imagine that we can protect ourselves by building barriers
between us and them. In the ruthless world of AIDS, there
is no us and them. (Kofi Annan) (Poland) - the winner.
(p15066)
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Schoolchildren
and students will be motivated and invited to join the
Candle March, an annual event of solidarity with people
living with HIV. (p15068)
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Red
cross peers holding stickers "You can't get AIDS",
Kyiv 2006. (p15067)
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