Quarantined HIV

We are still ready to deliver ARVT so that people living with HIV stay home and do not put themselves at risk for coronavirus infection. Each address is another person who cannot or for some reason is afraid to visit the hospital at this unfavorable time. And we are glad that we can support people.
Julia Stoke Social Worker, NGO Positive Movement (Minsk)

Task

Since March, the Minsk City Hospital for Infectious Diseases on Kropotkin Street began to work with patients who have diagnosed with COVID-19. But it is the only health facility in the city that deals with the issue of dispensation of ART medications. In order to separate the flows, the hospital made various entrances, but it is still psychologically difficult for HIV-positive people to come there. A lot of patients preferred to be self-isolated. The social workers from the organization Positive Movement decided to deliver therapy to people at home so that no one had to interrupt treatment.

Solution

Our group of activists from NGO Positive Movement decided to organize targeted delivery ART people living with HIV in Minsk. In cooperation with the Minsk City Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases, we got phone calls collecting applications while maintaining strict confidentiality and the rules for preventing coronavirus infection, started delivering medications.

Using public transport, it is quite difficult to make more than 10 medication deliveries per day. In this matter, colleagues from the UNAIDS Office in the Republic of Belarus came to our aid. Now there is an opportunity to move by car, and our productivity has increased significantly.

Delivery is carried out according to a flexible schedule, during working and non-working hours, including weekends. This is due to the fact that people have different work schedules, and we are adjusting to ensure that everyone is provided with medication on time.

Result

ART delivery is done daily basis for 30-50 locations, helping people get vital medicines. It is under our control to take care of the human security in the terms of the COVID-19 pandemic.