Expanding immediate intervention model to ensure adherence to HIV and hepatitis C (“HCV”) treatment and improve quality of life for HIV-positive women in Kyiv

Project donor(s)
Duration
Budget
Partner(s)
Gilead Sciences Europe LtdJune 2016 –
May 2017
€49,980Positive Women of the World, Kyiv city branch of All-Ukrainian Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS

Project objective:

Purpose of the project – to empower HIV-positive women in Kyiv, improve the quality of their life and adherence to treatment and overcome social exclusion if HIV positive females.

Project tasks:

  • Maintain and empower peer networks of women living with HIV in Kyiv.
  • Provide education and support to HIV-positive women on ART and co-infections with focus on hepatitis C and organize peer counseling for women in need of hepatitis C and ARV treatment.
  • Address needs of older HIV-positive women by involving them in peer networks and providing education and counseling to cope with aging problems.
  • Build better dialogue and understanding between women and medical professionals regarding treatment, quality of life and future.
  • Improve capacity of municipal medical HIV/AIDS services by linking them with NGO-based social workers.
  • Empower positive women and improve their advocacy skills for better accessing services.

Methodology:

Immediate intervention model is based on the principles of meaningful involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS (MIPA) and implies the creation of small support networks of women living with HIV in different districts of Kyiv in order to empower them, restore their family and social contacts, improve their access to the most needed services and thus, facilitate their reintegration back to the society.

Project activities:

  • Phone hotline for positive women: +38 067 239-69-36;
  • Monthly meetings of the self-help group of HIV-positive women;
  • Monthly meetings of the self-help group of HIV-positive women on Hepatitis C treatment;
  • Online counseling and support of HIV-positive women via facebook secret group “Kyianka+”;
  • Monthly joint events for HIV-positive women, such as master classes, trainings, leisure activities;
  • Trainings for female peer leaders, medical and social workers (on most crucial issues);
  • Professional training and further assistance in employment;
  • Individual and group counseling of psychologist;
  • Social support and referral to other services (if needed/on request).

IEM: