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BBC Radio 4's "Crossing Continents" on Thursday examined factors fueling the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ukraine. With more than 400,000 HIV-positive people, Ukraine has one of the fastest-growing epidemics in Europe, BBC Radio 4 reports. Julia Zhitkova of the nongovernmental organization Alternativa, which recently helped to launch a media campaign informing people of the availability of no-cost HIV testing and treatment nationwide, said the increase in HIV prevalence is linked to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Many people, unable to cope with the changes, turned to illegal drugs, Zhitkova said, adding that because there were no disposable syringes at the time, HIV spread rapidly. By late 2003, almost three-quarters of people registered as HIV-positive in Ukraine had become HIV-positive through injection drug use, according to BBC Radio 4. BBC Radio 4 also examined how young people are increasingly affected by HIV/AIDS and how stigma and discrimination are hampering efforts to fight the disease in the country (Michaud, "Crossing Continents," BBC Radio 4, 2/16). The complete segment is available online. Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report Friday, February 17, 2006 Global Challenges |
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