In continuation of the monitoring visit of the National Council on Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS under the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to Lviv Oblast 

The purpose of the visit was to assess the implementation of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis programmes, in particular those implemented at the expense of the state and local budgets and with the support of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The participants also analysed the activities of the Lviv Regional Council in coordinating the response to the spread of these diseases.

Key issues discussed during the visit:

✔ Financing of TB activities - assessment of the current situation and forecasting of needs, including assistance to IDPs.

✔ Human resources and financial capacity of the TB service - ensuring the necessary resources and funding for services.

✔ Cooperation between government agencies and the non-governmental sector - coordination between the Lviv Regional State Administration, the LOVA Health Department, CO ‘100% Life’, and the Regional Coordination Council.

✔ Implementation of the Global Fund programmes - evaluation of the effectiveness of HIV and TB response.

A meeting of the regional coordination council:

On 6 March, the visit included a meeting of the Regional Coordination Council at the Lviv Regional State Administration. The participants discussed the results of work in 2024 and the tasks for 2025. The meeting was joined online by Ihor Volodymyrovych Kuzin, Deputy Minister of Health of Ukraine, Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine, Head of the Committee on Regional Policy and the Secretariat of the National Council.

Among the key issues:

The results of the work on combating tuberculosis and HIV in 2024 were reported by Lyuboir Rak, Director General of the Lung's Health Center.

Expansion of antiretroviral therapy and innovative TB treatment regimens.

Control over the completion of treatment and cure of tuberculosis in the region - cooperation with CO ‘100% Life. Lviv’.

HIV prevention, including pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis.

Medical and social support for patients - providing social support and substitution maintenance therapy.

Educational campaigns to raise public awareness of HIV and tuberculosis.

Reports were also heard:

✔ Dmytro Tyhach, Chairman of the Board of CO ‘100% Life. Lviv, on the work of the shelter for IDPs from vulnerable groups.

✔ Sofia Kushnir, Executive Director of CO ‘BT ’100% Life. Lviv’, on the implementation of Global Fund projects and the risks of cutting some programmes.

✔ Natalia Ivanchenko, Director General of the Lviv Regional Centre for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, on cooperation in the field of surveillance and signing a Memorandum of Cooperation with the CO ‘100% Life. Lviv’.

For each of the issues discussed, a decision was made and recommendations were provided to improve healthcare services in the region.

The importance of systemic action in the TB and HIV response

In times of war, the threat of tuberculosis spreading increases, which requires comprehensive measures - from early diagnosis to ensuring adherence to treatment.

Tuberculosis Awareness Month is being held in Lviv Oblast from 1 March to 1 April. Its goal is to inform the public about the disease and emphasise the importance of timely medical care and preventive examinations.