Worst in Europe

In recent years, some of the highest new infection rates for HIV/AIDS has been in Russia and Ukraine. There are several reasons for this: poor (non-existent) sex education and drug use are among the top reasons. This, along with alcoholism has contributed to a high death rate, which along with a low birth rate results in declining population totals. These are very serious problems for any state, especially for those wanting to take their place among the world's leading nations.

Russia has finally begun to pay attention to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and is now devoting serious money to combat it. Their rate of new infections is starting to come down. But Ukraine still has a long way to go. Despite major international aid to combat the problem, Ukraine still has the highest infection rate in Europe and it is still increasing. Here is an excerpt from a report from the Kyiv Post (May 7)

Ukraine’s HIV/AIDS epidemic is a threat to Europe, according to UNAIDS, while international experts said the Ukrainian government is failing to curb the disease’s growth rate, which is the highest in Europe.

About 1.63 percent of Ukrainians, or about 756,300 citizens, were estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS in 2007, up from 1.46 percent of the population in 2005, or 685,600 citizens, according to UNAIDS. The statistics only reflect official cases, while those infected is likely higher, officials said.

“The current efforts of national and local authorities, the public and donors to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS have failed to have a due impact on the epidemic,” said UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Francis O’Donnell.

The report cites inadequate implementation of the proper strategies and corruption as major factors in the failure to get the rates down. Some funding agencies have withheld funds or directed them to other, non-governmental bodies.

A lot of progress is being made in Ukraine in developing the economy. Church leaders there tell us that there is more money in Ukraine, so they have been able to fund ministry initiatives with local money that would have been impossible a few years ago. But, there are still massive social problems that seem to overwhelm the government. People are suffering and dying. The evangelical church makes a disproportionately large contribution to social welfare. For example, Pastor Valery and his union of churches with which MPI works has 25 drug rehab centres throughout the country. We are told that about half of the rehabilitants in the centres are HIV+.

Don't think that Ukraine, on the verge of joining the European Union and NATO, is like the rest of Europe in all respects.

You can read the full news report from the Kyiv Post here, until they archive it.