HIV rapid testing is now available on all the first recourse centers of the city.

From the beginning of July, 2018, the new service will be implemented in all of the first recourse centers of Odessa – rapid HIV testing and HIV councelling for the people.

The service was implemented in frames of the pilot project “Sustainability of the HIV services” that aims to provide the people of Odessa and Odessa region the sustainable access to the HIV testing and counseling. The pilot project is leaded by the OCF “Way Home” together with the USAid project “HIV Reform in Action”. 

Thanks to the common actions of the local government, the NGOs and the support of the international experts, the new system of services for the people with high risk of HIV or proplr living with HIV. Starting from July, people of Odessa as well as the guests of the city will be able to get tested on HIV and receive all the necessary information on the topic from the specialists of each first-recourse centers of the city. In case of the positive result, the person will be immediately provided the forwarding to the special medical iinstitution.

The testing is being made by the two rapid tests. The result is ready after 10 minutes. It is very important, because it is essential that the person starts acting as soon as he knows his (positive) result.

«We are happy to build a very effective system of HIV diagnostics with rapid tests in the medical centers of Odessa. This is a firs and a very important step on the reorganization of the shole system of the HIV services n the country. The risks of the late diagnostics can decrese and the peoplewill be able to receive the needed treatment in time.», – said Alexander Babenko, the depity head of the Odessa city center for  HIV prevention and treatment.

Natalia Kitsenko, the head of the “Sustainability” project stated that the rapid testing had startded in the region in 2017, when the HIV testing started to operate in 5 city centers, while now it is possible to get tested in all of them. 418 648 hrn were forwarded from the budget of the project to all the 11 city centers to arrange the HIV testing offices.

Also, the documents and the primal registration papers were also printed and distributed to the centers. Also, the series of trainings for the medical staff were made in order to teach the specialists the aspects of the work. «We have taught 162 doctors and nurses to consult the people and make rapid testing. The main aim of the project is to have 90% of the people with HIV know their status by 2020. Knowing one’s status will allow then to have a proper treatment», – Natalia Kitsenko resumed.