Despite significant disruptions in the region, including mass displacement of populations and regressive legislative initiatives, the Joint Programme in eastern Europe and central Asia made notable contributions in scaling up HIV, sexual and reproductive health, harm reduction and social support services for key populations in health-care institutions, community facilities and emergency settings in 2022-2023.
Eastern Europe and Central Asia
Ukraine was able to repair health-care facilities, maintain and expand HIV services with strong focus on the needs of key populations, including through mobilizing key stakeholders, leveraging partnerships and resources, technical assistance and advocacy from the Joint Programme. The country maintained its HIV treatment and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) programmes despite the war and it committed to double PrEP service coverage by 2025.
In several countries in the region, the Joint Programme contributed to further increasing coverage of services among key populations, through the procurement of HIV-related medicines and commodities, training of health-care professionals, and testing campaigns. Implementation of innovative public information tools helped to reach millions of young people across the region with life-saving HIV, sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence and mental health information and referral services. Evidence generated from comprehensive HIV programme reviews and assessments strengthened national HIV responses, including optimized treatment options in seven countries.