The ongoing war in Ukraine has transformed everyday life into a constant struggle, with even routine tasks becoming extraordinary challenges. For the partner organizations of the Community Action for HIV Control (CAHC) project, delivering HIV services across the country now requires navigating blackouts, air raids, and displacement. Despite these hardships, CAHC and its 18 Ukrainian partner organizations continue to ensure access to lifesaving HIV testing and treatment across 14 regions, maintaining progress toward Ukraine’s goal of epidemic control by 2030.
In Kyiv, the staff of CO 100 Percent of Life face harsh winter conditions, missile and drone threats, and extended power outages that disrupt operations and outreach. Offices often lack heating and electricity, forcing staff to relocate workspaces or find temporary shelters while continuing to provide essential services. Despite these challenges, the organization has tested over 2,300 people since the beginning of winter, identifying 33 new HIV-positive cases. Staff adapt by adjusting schedules, using alternative premises, working evenings or weekends, and supporting each other to maintain continuity of care.
In Zhytomyr, CF Let Your Heart Beat has seen its work transformed by war-related disruptions. Air raids, blackouts, and unstable mobile networks make arranging and conducting HIV testing difficult. Staff now rely heavily on online communication, including apps and social media, to maintain contact with clients. They spend extra time providing emotional support, crisis counseling, and guidance on self-testing, often traveling to clients when resources for distributing kits are limited. Time and logistical constraints have stretched routine tasks into lengthy, complex efforts, yet the team persists in ensuring clients receive care.
In Cherkasy, HIV service delivery has taken on a deeply personal dimension. In small, tight-knit communities where stigma is high, social workers like Inna must navigate air raid alerts, unreliable communication, and reluctance from clients to engage with health services. Routine tasks now require patience, persistence, and empathy, as staff often travel to clients’ homes and work evenings or weekends to provide testing and prevention tools. This approach is essential to prevent new infections and ensure that individuals at high risk are not left without support, even amid war and insecurity.
Across Ukraine, CAHC partner organizations demonstrate resilience and innovation in delivering HIV services under extreme conditions. By adapting to wartime realities, supporting each other, and prioritizing client engagement, they ensure that lifesaving testing, treatment, and prevention services continue for vulnerable populations, even as the conflict and winter create ongoing obstacles.
