| "The most important thing is not letting HIV into
your heart and soul." |
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M., Camp Manager,
Ukraine Network of PLWHA: The first camp we had in 1999, we pitched it on
the same clearing. The tents were up there, the kitchen was here. There
were about 20 to 25 people. This year, thanks to the Global Fund
project, we can host about 200 people in two months. And I hope
that at least 70% of our visitors will organize something in their home
cities - a self-help group, or a club like ours. |
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| To strengthen the network of people living with HIV/AIDS,
M. organizes an annual summer camp with the support of the Global
Fund, which provides information on recent HIV medical developments
to participants from throughout Ukraine. |
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K., Nurse, Lavra Clinic, Kiev: Each region has its peculiar cultural problems in terms of treatment for HIV. When I talked to people here, I learned there are regions where they have no idea about different treatment regimes. |
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| The Lavra clinic where K. works is the only
place in the Ukraine where patients can get antiretroviral treatments (ARVs)
for HIV and AIDS. |
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K: People come
here from different parts of the Ukraine. They come to get tested, to check
out their state of health, their immune system. Today we had people from
Odessa, Kiev, Cherkassy. It's been a busy day. |
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| Unfortunately there is still a very limited supply
of ARVs available for the Ukraine's 250,000 HIV-positive individuals.
The clinic provides antiretroviral treatment to fewer than 50 of
its patients. But with the help of the Global Fund, the
clinic hopes to deliver life-saving ARVs to 4,000 patients by the end of
2003. |
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Dr Svetlana N. Antonyak,
Head of AIDS Section, Lavra Clinic: We have a waiting list for patients
urgently needing ARV therapy. I hope that we are not waiting in vain. The
number of patients needing ARVs is growing. |
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| In addition to drug therapy, a crucial factor in treatment is counseling by people living with HIV/AIDS. |
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Dr Antonyak:
It should be made clear that simply prescribing ARVs is not enough. We know
that the project can be successful only if people living with HIV/AIDS themselves
are involved with it.
K., HIV-positive herself, is a perfect example of this
strategy.
K: In my opinion, the best counseling technique is peer
counseling. A person who is infected himself can easily and fully tell another
HIV-positive person about how he struggled with his problems. |
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| Back at camp, the benefits of getting together with
other people living with HIV/AIDS go beyond the sharing of technical information. |
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M: We have open meetings of self-help groups in the evening. When it's turning dark, you sit down by the fire in a close circle. And when people start to share their feelings and emotions, it remains in your memory for a long time. |
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| The camp is the kind of experience that sustains people
and nourishes hope as they wait for treatment. |
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K: I remember we used to tell people: "There is medicine. It really helps." You saw a gleam of hope in their eyes for a moment and then, when you said that the treatment was not available, you saw the light die down.
M: I don't get sick and I don't keep my mind fixed on my HIV status. At one meeting, I heard a very good phrase: "The most important thing is not letting HIV into your heart and soul." I recall these words very often.
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