UMANA addresses the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Ukraine (04/06/03)

UMANA addresses the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Ukraine

by Maria Hrycelak, M.D.

CHICAGO - In the spirit of U.S.-Ukraine programs for information exchange and to foster professional interaction on the ongoing challenges of HIV/AIDS, a series of presentations was recently prepared on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS. This public health effort was undertaken by authors-presenters from various private and public institutions in the United States, including many members of the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America. (UMANA members are indicated below with an asterisk following their names.)

The purpose of the program was to share information on specific patient-related clinical issues, as well as public health efforts as known to the authors, and to increase awareness of these experiences. The intent was to provide an opportunity for others to increase their knowledge base and more effectively tailor efforts against HIV/AIDS in their own communities. Presentations were prepared in English and translated into Ukrainian by translators in Lviv.

The program included an overview of HIV/AIDS by symposium coordinator Roxolana Horbowyj, M.D.*; afterwards, the topics of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of HIV-infected patients were addressed from various aspects.

Presentations described the U.S. public health response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic (Richard Klein, U.S. Food and Drug Administration), methods to reduce risks of viral transmission through blood transfusion in the U.S. (Askold Mosijczuk, M.D.*), and recent recommendations to minimize HIV transmission from mothers to newborns (Maria Hrycelak, M.D.*).

Current pharmacological management of HIV-infected patients (Alice Pau, Pharm.D., National Institutes of Health) was detailed, as were unique clinical issues often encountered in HIV-infected patients in the areas of neuro-psychiatry (George Jaskiw, M.D.*), kidney disease (Zenia Chernyk, D.O.*), lung infections (Truvor Kuzmovych, M.D.*) and skin changes (George W. Turiansky, M.D.*).

Global molecular epidemiology and HIV vaccine design (Vladimir Novitsky, M.D., Ph.D., Harvard AIDS Institute), as well as experience in program development to improve access to care in Africa (Richard Marlink, M.D., Harvard AIDS Institute) provided an international perspective on the challenges of HIV infection.

In August 2002, several of these presentations were published in an issue dedicated to HIV/AIDS (No. 149) of the Journal of the Ukrainian Medical Association (JUMANA). This issue was prepared and delivered for distribution at the IXth Congress of the World Federation of Ukrainian Medical Associations (WFUMA) held in Luhansk, Ukraine, on August 19-23, 2002. UMANA and the UMANA Foundation provided funds to support the translation of manuscripts and slide presentations.

To broadly share such information, in December 2002, the Ukrainian Distance Learning (UDL) Network (www.udl.org.ua) launched the U.S.-Ukraine HIV/AIDS Symposium as a web-symposium in English and Ukrainian. UDL is a non-governmental organization whose mission is to develop and strengthen the Distance Learning System in Ukraine.

Web-symposium registration was free to all at the courtesy of UDL. The Ukrainian Federation of America provided further funding. The active web-cast of the program was held during the period of December 12-20, 2002, and included access to all presentations and manuscripts in English and in Ukrainian, as well as moderated chat-room sessions and bulletin board discussions for each topic. Real-time English-Ukrainian translation was available for transparent communication. Statistics showed a several-fold higher-than-average registration rate per week, as well as above-average rates of conference-users logins into the program and participation in activities, as compared to the average in Ukraine for similar types of programs. In addition, it is noteworthy that several practical steps to further goals were identified during the program.

Efforts to help curb the HIV/AIDS epidemic continue. These include the production of a multi-media CD of all HIV/AIDS Symposium presentations narrated in English and in Ukrainian for free distribution to web-symposium participants, UMANA members and various non-profit organizations.

In May of this year the members of the symposium group will participate in a two-day community event being organized and sponsored by the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center (UECC) in Philadelphia. This UECC event aims to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, to promote prevention and to provide community support to children in Ukraine with HIV infection.

The program will include lectures and discussions, exhibits and a fund-raising black-tie evening, as well as a press conference. Special guests will include Miss Universe, Justine Pasek, whose work strives to help to remove the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS and to help educate individuals and governments about what has been called the largest epidemic in human history.

Next, in June the biennial UMANA Conference will be held in Chicago. The conference theme is infectious diseases and includes sessions on HIV/AIDS and commonly concurrent infections.

HIV infection and its ultimately fatal end stage, AIDS, are a global challenge that directly and/or indirectly affects all people. Vectors for transmission are known. Prevention is foremost to curbing spread and is possible through various simple, as well as sophisticated ways. In Ukraine, it is estimated that over three-quarters of those infected with HIV are teens and young adults age 15-27.

The UMANA is encouraging everyone to integrate efforts to address HIV/AIDS within their scope. Such shared experiences and multi-venue efforts will promote awareness of known and evolving options, outcomes and events, and empower communities to optimize efforts within their sphere. Decreased vulnerability to infection through prevention and support of those already afflicted will help overcome this pandemic soon.

HIV/AIDS in Ukraine: the sobering facts

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