• Over 100,000 people reached through awareness-raising efforts – Local organisations provided HIV prevention education to 111,930 people.
• High quality VCT provided – A total of 14,918 people from the general population underwent high-quality voluntary counselling and testing and were referred to appropriate medical or HIV servicing organisations.
  Successful outreach to HIV-positive women in Odessa – Every HIV-positive pregnant woman in Odessa has been counselled and provided with psychological support and medical assistance due to this SI. The total number of women reached was 1,159.
• Peer educators and VCT providers trained – 468 peer educators and 1,468 VCT providers and other professionals were trained to improve the way they address HIV.

In 2008, Ukraine had the fastest growing rate of new HIV infections of any country in Europe. According to a WHO HIV/AIDS report released that year, the prevalence of HIV among adults in Ukraine rose from zero to 1.6 percent between 1990 and 2007. In Odessa, HIV prevalence among adults has been three to four times higher. In 2006, Odessa had the second highest rate of HIV prevalence in Ukraine. Primary research revealed several problems specific to this region that are contributing to the increase in HIV-positive rates. First, there is a lack of HIV prevention education for the general population as distinct from high-risk groups, which have been the focus of prevention education. Second, there is a lack of voluntary counselling and testing sites and low quality of testing and counselling services. Third, there is an unusually high number of IV drug users, especially among street children and commercial sex workers.

The US$ 1,330,473 Ukraine HIV/AIDS Strategic Initiative was launched during one of the most severe HIV epidemics in Eastern Europe in one of the most affected regions: Odessa, Ukraine. Historically, HIV/AIDS funding in this region has targeted high-risk groups. While still supporting harm reduction interventions, this strategic initiative was launched to cover interventions that have suffered from a gap in funding: HIV prevention for the general population, primarily focussing on the "Abstain, Be Faithful, Use Condoms" approach (ABC), and the improvement of and increased access to voluntary counselling and training (VCT) services. The Initiative also sought to provide medical services to treat sexually transmitted infections (STIs), improve care for those who are sick, and decrease stigma and discrimination against groups living with HIV or who are vulnerable to it. Investing over US$ 1.3 million in six local organisations to provide a variety of essential services, the initiative was expected to reach approximately 105,000 people.

At the end of three years, the Ukraine HIV/AIDS SI has achieved its primary goals. In some areas, implementing partners have exceeded our expectations and developed model programmes that can be replicated in the entire country. We have observed a significant improvement in VCT services due to the outstanding work of Future Without AIDS (FWA). Alternativa served every HIV-positive pregnant woman in Odessa Oblast, contributing to reduced mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) rates. Expertise and services developed by our implementing partners have been recognised at the national level. Peer-driven interventions introduced by The Way Home and the Sophia Girls’ Shelter by Faith Hope Love have become models to replicate in other regions of Ukraine. Future Without AIDS has actively participated in the development of national law that regulates VCT procedures.

While each individual implementer has reached the goals set before them, some strategic goals for the SI remained unreached. The community of practice that we were trying to facilitate did not become a reality. Even though some implementers cooperated more than others, overall, the organisations conducted their work separately. We believe that by creating a community, the overall impact of the SI would have been greater. Over the course of three years, we motivated our implementing partners to think about the impact of their programmes in terms of creating behavioural change rather than just raising awareness. Not all implementers, however, were able to evidence actual behaviour change.

Despite unreached goals, progress, has been made. A recent report by the Ukrainian Centre for the Prevention and Fight against AIDS (2007–2009) indicated an improved outlook for Odessa, as the number of new cases of HIV in this region has steadily decreased. In 2010 Odessa’s HIV prevalence rates fell to fourth place in Ukraine. In this context, the Ukraine HIV/AIDS Initiative has had a marked impact by providing essential services to Odessa’s high-risk groups and general population, teaching thousands to protect themselves from contracting the virus and contributing directly to stemming the spread of HIV. With new funding promised for the future, we hope these excellent organisations can secure sustainable programme funds, as we believe the SI has provided a solid foundation for this region to continue its fight against HIV.