On July 21, in the framework of the AIDS 2024 International Conference and EECA Regional Dialogue, the partners of #SoS_project 2.0 met with Dr. Hans Kluge, World Health Organization (WHO) Director for Europe.
The project “Sustainability of services for key populations in EECA region” is implemented by a consortium of organizations led by the IBF “Public Health Alliance” in partnership with the NGO “100% Life”. The event took place on the opening day of the Global Village of the International AIDS 2024 Conference in Munich, providing a unique opportunity to discuss current issues and priorities on the way to achieving the 95-95-95 and 10-10-10 goals.
Participants included representatives of the Global Fund as well as leading organizations from the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region: ICF “Alliance for Public Health”, Alliance Consultancy, Eurasian Movement for the Right to Health in Prisons, Eurasian Key Populations Coalition (EKPC), Health Advocacy Coalition (HAC), Regional Expert Group on Migration and Health (REG), Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA), International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC), Eurasian Coalition on Health, Rights, Gender and Sexual Diversity (ECOM), CO “100% Life” and VirusOFF regional platform.
During the meeting, Dr. Kluge emphasized the importance of continuing initiatives to eliminate infectious diseases in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) region and protecting the rights of key groups. The participants discussed several priority issues, in particular, sustainable access to life-saving services, mental health support, and work with migrants and temporarily displaced persons in the context of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Andriy Klepikov, Executive Director of Alliance for Public Health noted the importance of cooperation with WHO: “The partnership between WHO and civil society networks is incredibly important and valuable for our region. We need your knowledge and expertise to justify the importance of continued funding for HIV and TB in the near term to achieve the 2030 goals.”
Tetiana Deshko, Director of International Programs at Alliance for Public Health also emphasized the importance of further collaboration: “Cooperation with WHO in the framework of Global Fund projects is of great value for EECA. And we hope that in the next phase, it will be possible to continue important initiatives, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis and early diagnosis of HIV.”
Dr. Kluge reiterated his willingness to work on all issues discussed, stressing the importance of human rights and health priorities: “We develop policies, but implementing them at country and regional levels is always a long road, and we have to go through it together. Thank you for your amazing work. We can’t leave people behind.”
Learn more about Eastern Europe and Central Asia at AIDS 2024: aids2024.virusoff.info
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