This week marks two years since Russia's devastating full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has taken the lives of over 10,000 civilians since Feb. 24, 2022, and affected Ukrainians' access to basic services. In May, the World Health Organization recorded more than 1,000 Russian attacks on health care, including health providers, facilities, and supplies – the highest number ever recorded in a humanitarian emergency. These attacks have completely restricted patient access to care.
Partnerships are critical when delivering healthcare in the midst of conflict. Through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the U.S. has continued to provide Ukrainians with lifesaving treatment for HIV/AIDS. During the Bush Institute’s PEPFAR at 20 celebration last year, Dmytro Sherembei on behalf of the largest patient-led organization in Ukraine, 100 Percent Life, which receives funding from PEPFAR. Community health workers like Dmytro work to deliver lifesaving HIV medication by any means possible – even traveling across enemy lines.
“[PEPFAR] helped us save more than 120,000 people [in 2022]…As soon as [the anti-retroviral therapy] arrived in Ukraine, we found all possible ways to deliver this medicine by boats, by cars.... We found ways to bring the medicine to those who needed [it],” Dmytro said.
U.S. partnership with Ukraine is essential not only to treat HIV/AIDS but also for Ukrainians to secure access to healthcare. Programs like PEPFAR help Ukrainians live healthier lives and fight for their freedom. Supporting PEPFAR is critical to the fight for freedom across the globe and must be reauthorized as soon as possible.
Kind regards,
Igor Khrestin
The Bradford M. Freeman Managing Director of Global Policy
George W. Bush Institute
