HIV and health

HIV, health and development

Eastern Europe and Central Asia is one of only three regions in the world where the HIV epidemic continues to grow. New HIV infections are rising dramatically, with almost no decline of AIDS-related deaths. According to UNAIDS 2020 Global AIDS Update Report “Seizing the Moment”, between 2010 and 2019, new HIV infections have risen by 72 percent and AIDS-related deaths have increased by 24 percent.

Of the 1.7 million people living with HIV in the region, only 43 percent are on treatment. Key populations and their sexual partners are disproportionately impacted, accounting for 99 percent of new HIV infections in 2019. New infections primarily occur among populations at higher risk of HIV (accounting for 99 percent), such as people who inject drugs (approximately 48 percent), clients of sex workers, and sexual partners of these populations (20 percent). Among women who have newly acquired HIV, nearly two thirds inject drugs. This is accompanied with high levels of physical, sexual and emotional violence towards women and girls contributing to significant barriers to HIV services.

The region is lagging behind to reach the 90 90 90 targets with 70 percent of people living with HIV knowing their status, with only 44 percent of these on treatment and also only 41 percent virally suppressed. Punitive laws and policies regarding same-sex relationships, drug use and sex work continue to increase stigma towards vulnerable populations, further fueling the epidemic. Fear of prosecution keeps populations away from testing and knowing their HIV status.

Across Kyrgyzstan, lack of access to clean drinking water presents a serious health problem.

In Turkmenistan, psychologists help keep TB patients on track with their treatment.

In Belarus, promoting healthy lifestyles is vital in protection against non-communicable diseases.

UNDP has improved drug procurement in Ukraine, saving up to 45 percent of the allocated budget, allowing for coverage of more patients and diseases.

The region is also experiencing high rates of co-infections especially with tuberculosis. Nine of the world’s 30 countries with a high burden of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) are in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region

Meanwhile, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and mental disorders account for an estimated 86% of the deaths and 77% of the disease burden in the region.

An already challenging health landscape is further complicated by dramatic changes in current and future funding for effective and equitable HIV and health responses.

UNDP's work in the health area focuses on:

  • Promoting laws, regulations and policies that help address HIV-related issues and protect the rights of key populations at higher risk of HIV, such as people who use drugs, sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, migrant workers and people living with HIV;
  • Supporting sustainable financing of HIV and health responses by promoting access to affordable and quality HIV and other medicines of public health importance;
  • Identifying and promoting the most impactful and efficient investments in the HIV and TB response, and encouraging more sustainable domestic financing including through NGO social contracting;
  • Promoting the establishment of sustainable and transparent procurement in the health sector in partnership with other UN agencies, global health financing institutions, civil society and the private sector; and
  • Addressing the social, economic and environmental determinants of health and health equity as critical facts for ill health.