UNDP in Ukraine

The EU-UNDP-UNFPA Joint Programme "HIV/STI Prevention among Uniformed Services in Ukraine" with financial support of the European Union comes to its end in September 2009. Established in 2005, the Programme was aimed at prevention of HIV/STI (sexually-transmitted infections) and other health risks, such as drug abuse and sexually transmitted infections and formation of commitment to healthy lifestyle and safe behaviour among the uniformed services in Ukraine and increasing their knowledge and awareness of the problem.

The overall Programme budget was EUR 2.5 mn.

It is for the first time when the issue of HIV prevention is considered as part of strategy of formation of healthy lifestyle among uniformed services in Ukraine. Only in the context of formation of healthy lifestyle, the issue of HIV prevention among uniformed services takes on special significance and has close connection with such negative occurrence as alcohol and drug abuse, STI, etc.

During the time of project implementation a set of educational programs on HIV/STI prevention, development of leadership and commitment to healthy lifestyle were developed.  Special attention was paid to the development of leadership skills of uniformed services to commitment of healthy lifestyle, which became significant approach to the system of professional educational of personnel of uniformed services of leading countries of the world. 35 training sessions on leadership were carried out for more than 1,000 officers of partner-ministries. Besides, in the framework of leadership component, the trainings were organized for the senior ministerial staff of the Central Directorates of partner-agencies, including five generals.

On the basis of the Dragomanov's National Pedagogical University, courses on formation of leadership and commitment to healthy lifestyle designed for the heads of academic departments and senior faculties of the higher education institutions of the Ministry of Defence, State Border Guard Service and Ministry of Internal Affairs have been organized. Starting from 1 of September 2008, designated course had been introduced into the curriculum of 24 higher education institutions of partners.

Since the project lunch, three books aimed at the staff of military and law-enforcement authorities were developed and released, namely manual "Strategic planning and policy of forming of commitment to healthy lifestyle among military and law-enforcement personnel" (designed for the leadership of the military command, police administration, and also for the military academic faculty of educational facilities of the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Internal Affairs, and State Border Guard Service of Ukraine), "Formation of leadership and commitment to healthy lifestyle among uniformed services in Ukraine" (designed for the system of higher education institutions of the partner-ministries) and "Informational guidebook on forming of commitment to healthy lifestyle and safe behavior of military and law-enforcement personnel of Ukraine" (designed for the professional development system of the partner-agencies).

All publications have officially been endorsed and recommended for use by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

Introduction of before-mentioned publications into the system of professional education of personnel will cover up to 300,000 of employees of law-enforcement authorities of Ministry of Internal Affairs and up to 300,000 of military personnel of the Armed Forces, Internal Troops of Ministry of Internal Affires and State border guard Services of Ukraine.

Also, project's expert paid special attention to work with contracted military personnel (more than 100000) and family members of military personnel of remote military settlements (more than 30000). A new educational program "Development of motivation to healthy lifestyle among uniformed services in Ukraine" has been designed and till today, series of trainings are carried out for the respective staff responsible for work with these categories.

Data on HIV/AIDS situation in Ukraine

According to data from the Ukrainian AIDS Centre, as of the end of 2008, Ukraine had registered 141 277 persons with HIV-infection, including 26 804 persons with AIDS, and 15,200 AIDS-related deaths. These figures represent only a portion of the 377,600 people estimated to be currently living with HIV-infection in Ukraine, or 1.46% adult prevalence.

The size of the HIV epidemic is steadily increasing, with a growing number of newly reported HIV infections every year since 1999. In 2008, 18,963 new cases of HIV-infection were officially reported in Ukraine, the largest number ever reported since the beginning of HIV surveillance in 1987. This represented an annual increase of 10% in comparison to the number of new infections reported in 2007.

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UN Development Programme (UNDP) is the world's main coordinating body for international economic development. It's the UN's global network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

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Find out more information about the project's activities at www.zdorovavarta.org.ua