Press-releases
The Foundation of President Clinton is integrating efforts in combating AIDS in Ukraine with
The Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative, The Elena Franchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation and The Victor Pinchuk Foundation signed an agreement on cooperation in New York today that will integrate their efforts in the five-year project implementation targeted at slowing the growth of new HIV/AIDS cases, as well as for treatment and support of people living with HIV/AIDS in Ukraine. The donation granted by the Elena Franchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation and the Victor Pinchuk Foundation totals US$2.5 million.
"I am very pleased to be working with the Elena Franchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation and the Victor Pinchuk Foundation. Our program will work to increase access to the HIV/AIDS preventive measures, treatment and nursing of people living with HIV/AIDS in Ukraine. Due to the given support we could considerably increase the number of people to be rendered badly needed medical services. I appreciate our partnership very much", President Clinton said after the signing of an agreement.
"The work of Clinton Foundation has made a tremendous difference worldwide in terms of treatment and support of people living with HIV/AIDS. I am sure that Ukraine will benefit from our partnership", founder of the Elena Franchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation stated. "To my foundation, this partnership means expansion of our activity that was focusing on implementation of the large-scale informational and educational campaigns over the last three years. Today, in order to change the situation with the AIDS, Ukraine needs the best international experience and the latest innovations in battling the epidemics".
This is a five-year project and the work during the first year will be centered on the Dnepropetrovsk region. After that the program's initiatives will be replicated in other regions of Ukraine.
The major tasks of the projects are: to increase access to rapid testing, improve laboratory capacity, train and mentor health care workers, to improve Anti Retro Viral drugs procurement processes and to introduce HIV treatment/substitution therapy.
The collaboration of the Elena Franchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation and the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative started in 2004, when representatives of The Clinton Foundation visited Ukraine at the invitation of Ms. Franchuk, founder of ANTIAIDS Foundation. Following that visit a memorandum between the Clinton Foundation and the government of Ukraine was signed, which assisted the government in receiving access to the lowest prices on generic Anti Retro Viral drugs for HIV/AIDS treatment. The funds allocated by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria allowed considerably more patients in Ukraine to receive access to live-saving therapy.
At the beginning of 2005, during President Clinton's visit to Ukraine, there was signed the second advanced memorandum which identified priority directions of cooperation of Clinton Foundation and the Government of Ukraine in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
To complete the tasks set by the memorandum, the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative developed a five-year project on fighting AIDS in Ukraine. The Elena Franchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation and the Victor Pinchuk Foundation expressed their willingness to integrate efforts for implementation of the project developed by the Clinton Foundation experts and committed $2, 5 million for its support.
The Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative
The Elena Franchuk ANTIAIDS Foundation
The ANTIAIDS Foundation was established by Elena Franchuk in September 2003. At present, it is the first and sole private foundation in Ukraine committed to fighting HIV/AIDS. The Foundation activities are aimed at: implementing large-scale informational and educational campaigns; drawing attention of the public, government authorities and business leaders to the HIV/AIDS problem; providing direct support to people living with HIV/AIDS; attracting resources for supporting relevant projects on HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment; extermination of prejudices, diminishing the stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS.
The Victor Pinchuk Foundation
The Victor Pinchuk Foundation develops and supports projects that contribute to the development of Ukraine. The six fields of activity and the projects of the Foundation have been selected because of their strategic importance for the future of the country. In the field of health, the Victor Pinchuk Foundation is implementing the program on all-Ukrainian networking of the neonatal centers "Cradles of Hope". In the field of education, the Foundation is implementing a scholarship program "Zavtra.ua". In the cultural sphere Victor Pinchuk has become a founder of the biggest Contemporary Art Center in the East Europe, and in collaboration with Steven Spielberg, he has acted as a co-producer of the documentary film "Spell Your Name" dedicated to the Holocaust tragedy in Ukraine. To provide the low-income population with a legal aid, the programs on legal defense and consultations are implemented jointly with the Soros Foundation. The Victor Pinchuk Foundation takes an active part in the initiatives on Ukraine's further integration in the European and world communities, and supports local communities in Ukraine as well.
For more detailed information, please, contact Olga Rudneva, director of ANTIAIDS Foundation ([email protected]) and Deepak Verma, CHAI's Chief Operating Officer ([email protected]) of Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative.
