Heterosexual Transmission Driving Ukraine's HIV/AIDS Epidemic

Heterosexual transmission has "overtaken drug abuse as the main cause of AIDS" in Ukraine, Agence France-Presse reports. "In 2009, 43 percent of Ukrainians infected with HIV caught the virus through heterosexual sex and 35 percent by drug injection," AFP writes, referencing a national report (.pdf) put together by the Ukrainian ministry of health for UNAIDS. The article notes several challenges to HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention in the country and recent progress made in reducing the country's AIDS mortality rate, which experts attribute to an increase use of antiretroviral therapy in the country. "But funds are limited and at least 7,500 patients who need the drugs are not receiving them," according to the news service, which adds, the country "has already received 230 million dollars from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for the years 2004-2012 and will this month put in a new request with the organisation for estimated 300 million dollars for 2012-2017" (Tsukanova, 7/11).

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