EDC Senior Vice President Encourages Funders to Increase Involvement in HIV and AIDS at Grantmakers East Group Meeting in Kyiv

In 2002, the European Foundation Centre (EFC) created the European HIV/AIDS Funders Group, including eight European foundations, committed to mobilizing leadership and resources and sharing best practices to combat the epidemic. “But there is a need for many more funders to address HIV and AIDS, especially in Ukraine and Russia, which are said to have the fastest growing rate of infection in the world,” said EDC Senior Vice President and director of EDC’s Health and Human Development Programs, Cheryl Vince Whitman, in a recent presentation to the Grantmakers East Group in Kyiv, Ukraine. “Donors struggle to find a fit with their missions as they define HIV more as a health rather than a societal problem and may experience their own feelings of stigma with the topic. Many do not perceive HIV and AIDS to be a significant threat in Europe. These and other issues must be addressed to prevent spread of the disease and the resulting human and financial toll.”

An expert in designing HIV and AIDS programs worldwide and representing EDC’s membership in EFC, Ms. Vince Whitman was invited to speak at the tenth annual meeting of Grantmakers East Group, Response to Change, on key aspects of the epidemic that donors can address. Dealing with the spread of HIV/AIDS has been left primarily to governments to fund. Yet there is great need and opportunity for private donors to become involved in innovative strategies across the spectrum of HIV and AIDS work, including combating stigma, and providing prevention education, early screening and intervention, testing and counseling, treatment, and care of affected children.

According to UNAIDS, the estimated HIV prevalence rate in Ukraine is 1.4 percent (360,000 people), and in Russia it is 1.1 percent (860,000 people). Although these rates may seem relatively low, the time for a country to act is well before rates reach the tipping point of 5%, which is when containing further spread is very difficult.  Overall, more than 80% of people who are HIV positive in Ukraine and Russia have not yet turned 30, while only 30% of HIV positive residents of Western Europe are under 30. The epidemic has been fueled largely by drug use among young people and unprotected sexual activity. Fewer than 5% of these young people have access to programs reducing risk.

Ms. Vince Whitman emphasized the need for donor and broad societal involvement in overcoming stigma and discrimination as barriers in controlling the epidemic. Due to intolerance, people do not come forward to be tested and therefore continue to spread infection. One of the most effective strategies for overcoming stigma is for people to get to know and work directly in policy and program development with people who are living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHAs).

January 13, 2006