Problem: Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Russia has developed a number of restrictive measures on access to treatment and prevention of vertical transmission of HIV infection for women living with HIV and raising infants (our key group). For example, difficulties in movement, inability to obtain basic necessities and breast milk substitute.

Also, caused by job cuts and massive layoffs of employees, part of the key group is forced to take unpaid leave. As a result, there is a significant increase in the financial burden – more than 80% of the funds from the benefits offered by the state in connection with COVID-19 were spent by the key group in the 1st month of quarantine.

Right now, women living with HIV and raising infants in the Nizhny Novgorod region are literally in colossal danger: according to the latest report from the state budgetary healthcare institution “Nizhny Novgorod Regional AIDS Center” for the first quarter of 2020, women living with HIV gave birth to 75 children. But adherence to ARV therapy is reduced, the risk of breastfeeding and vertical transmission is allowed, because of lack of funds on breast milk substitutes purchases. The situation is urgent.

Solution: The STEP Charitable Foundation gave a prompt response to the challenge posed by the global pandemic. We took measures for the urgent purchase of humanitarian kits, which included essential items (diapers, bottles, etc.), as well as kits of breast milk substitutes. A hotline for psychological support and peer counseling for women living with HIV was organized by phone, as well as a support group was organized in Skype. It is noteworthy that upon learning about our problem, the breast milk supplier company went forward, reducing the price and adding sets of breast milk substitutes for free. It allowed us to stay within the allocated budget for the project.

Result: In just the first month of the project on the provision of humanitarian aid and breast milk substitutes to women living with HIV, we managed to reach 46 women raising infants from 0 to 12 months in the Nizhny Novgorod region. Our initiative continues its work. You can get humanitarian aid for women living with HIV at the office of the STEP charitable foundation in Nizhny Novgorod.