Strengthening HIV Response in Odesa

On the eve of World AIDS Day, celebrated on December 1st, a working meeting took place at the Odesa city hall with representatives from the City Center for HIV/AIDS Prevention and non-governmental organizations.

Amid the ongoing war, Odesa continues to ensure the stability of medical services in the fight against HIV and tuberculosis.

Free HIV testing is available in all city hospitals, primary healthcare centers, diagnostic consultation centers, maternity hospitals, and "Trust" offices of the City AIDS Center. Rapid tests provide results in just 10-15 minutes.

Individuals who test positive are referred by multidisciplinary teams, including healthcare professionals and social workers, to the City AIDS Center for further examination and necessary treatment. High-quality antiretroviral therapy is provided free of charge, allowing people living with HIV to lead long, fulfilling lives, pose no risk to their partners, and have healthy children.

In the first 10 months of 2025, a total of 34,792 patients underwent HIV testing in Odesa, resulting in 301 new positive cases identified. Of these tests, 19,140 patients were examined by primary healthcare doctors.

Tuberculosis screening is conducted by family doctors through questionnaires. This year, primary care doctors identified 702 suspected cases of tuberculosis. Patients were referred for further examinations, confirming the presence of pulmonary tuberculosis in 542 individuals, including 331 cases of active tuberculosis.

Meeting participants discussed ways to enhance collaboration between medical institutions and NGOs for more effective referral of patients with positive HIV tests to specialists.

Additionally, the City AIDS Center offered free anonymous testing for HIV and viral hepatitis to all interested staff and visitors at the Administrative Services Center.