UMANA Pennsylvania Chapter launches national forum on prevention of HIV/AIDS in children in Ukraine (05/25/03)

UMANA Pennsylvania Chapter launches national forum on prevention of HIV/AIDS in children in Ukraine

by Dr. George Hrycelak

PHILADELPHIA - The Pennsylvania Chapter of the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA) launched a major educational effort to raise awareness about the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Saturday, May 3, at the AIDS in Ukraine Awareness Weekend in Philadelphia.

The Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center (UECC) in Jenkintown, Pa., initiated this effort by organizing the HIV/AIDS Awareness weekend May 3-4 in conjunction with a visit from current Miss Universe Justine Pasek, who was born in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

UMANA Chapter President Wasyl Salak, M.D., in close cooperation with UECC Executive Director Orysia Hewka, organized this first open national forum to inform the diaspora and Ukraine about the significant impact of HIV/AIDS on the future of Ukrainians worldwide. Conference organizer and moderator Roxolana Horbowyj, M.D., assembled specialists covering a range of medical, epidemiological and economic topics relating to "Prevention of HIV Infection in Children in Ukraine."

The sessions were opened formally on Saturday morning by UECC President Borys Zacharchuk.

Conference moderator Dr. Roxolana Horbowyj, general and critical care surgeon, Washington, gave an overview of this disease in the world and its impact on Ukraine. Dr. Tim A. Clary, HIV/infectious diseases epidemiologist for Europe and Eurasia, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), set the stage describing the status of HIV/AIDS in Ukraine today.

Dr. Larissa Kyj, economist with the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee, presented statistics relating to the impact of HIV/AIDS on Ukraine's children. Projections for the future of the disease in Ukraine are rather dismal unless a major informational campaign succeeds in informing the public and changing risky behavior to reduce exposure to the virus. Alexander B. Kuzma, executive director of the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund (CCRF), discussed what makes children in Ukraine vulnerable to HIV infection.

Joseph Amon, Ph.D., epidemiologist with the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (USUHS) elucidated further on the impact of HIV/AIDS on Ukraine's adolescents. Maria Hrycelak, M.D., director of pediatric ambulatory care at Lutheran General Hospital, Illinois, presented data describing the potential success of reducing the incidence of HIV transfer from pregnant women to their children to less than 2 percent from Ukraine's estimated high 25 percent with appropriate treatment and maternal-child care policies.

Kate Schecter, Ph.D., of the American International Health Alliance, shared information on the AIHA's pilot project in Odesa, showing the potential for successful treatment strategies related to mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

The final speaker was photographer Joseph Sywenkyj, noted Ukrainian American recipient of an UMANA Foundation partial grant in 2002, who presented a poignant series of photos taken recently in Odesa. During his stay there he chronicled the sad impact of AIDS on families and children of victims who are barely aware of the insidious and ultimately fatal nature of their affliction. The striking reality of the images brought a noticeable and emotional hush to the viewing audience.

The AIDS awareness program continued with an exhibit by photographer and UMANA member Roksolana Tymiak-Lonchyna, D.D.S., depicting her experiences with orphans and children at risk for AIDS in Lviv, and explaining the importance of supplying nutrition for the maintenance of the general health of these at-risk children.

UMANA and CCRF collaborate

The board of directors of the National Office of UMANA met with the Pennsylvania Chapter on Saturday afternoon for quarterly deliberations. UMANA National Office President Ihor Voyevidka, M.D., presented a proposal from the CCRF to jointly sponsor a Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT) Prevention, Diagnostic and Treatment Program at the Lviv Regional Perinatal Center.

The medical association unanimously endorsed this proposal, and voted to match CCRF's commitment with a $10,000 donation. This project can serve as a model for other centers in Ukraine to obtain the latest in diagnostic and treatment facilities for the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

UMANA pledges further support

The events concluded with a strong commitment among participants to carry forth the educational efforts already started. UMANA's National Office is urging other chapters in the United States and Canada to emulate the example set by the Pennsylvania Chapter in presenting this educational forum.

Issue No. 149 of the Journal of the Ukrainian Medical Association (Likarskyi Visnyk) is completely dedicated to topics of HIV/AIDS with research updates from multiple university centers. This Ukrainian-language journal is distributed among 2,000 health care professionals in Ukraine and 400 in the United States.

The upcoming UMANA Scientific Conference in Chicago, to be held on June 18-22, centered on infectious diseases, will contain sessions on HIV/AIDS. Similar informational projects are currently under way, and UMANA is encouraging other Ukrainian diaspora organizations to support the awareness campaign to their fullest capacity. Further information on this topic may be obtained from UMANA by calling (773) 278-6262 or visiting the website www.umana.org.

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