Expanding Access to HIV Services in Prisons of EECA Region

Donor: The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria under the regional program “Sustainability of Services for Key Populations in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) Region”, implemented by a consortium of organizations led by the Alliance for Public Health in partnership with the Charitable Organization “100% LIFE”

Goal: To help remove barriers that prevent people in prison and people released from prison from accessing health and social services, and to strengthen the sustainability of HIV-related services in penitentiary institutions across the EECA region

Countries: Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Ukraine

Project areas of work:

• developing and introducing peer-to-peer services in penitentiary institutions (PIs);
• removing legal and organizational barriers that prevent people in prison from accessing health and social services (HIV, TB, and OAT);
• preparing people in prison for release and ensuring continuity of health and social support after release from a PI;
• supporting the integration of the penitentiary healthcare system into the national healthcare system;
• developing public funding and social contracting for services for people in prison and people after release;
• involving community representatives in the development, implementation, and community-led monitoring (CLM) of government programs and reforms.

Total budget: USD 84 386

Key project results:

• Georgia. Standards for preparing people in prison for release were developed, including an overdose prevention module for penitentiary staff. 27 staff members from three PIs were trained in overdose risk reduction, after which a pre-release support program for people in prison was piloted.
• Kazakhstan. The needs of women who use drugs and were preparing for release were included in the country’s funding request to the Global Fund. Community representatives also became more involved in reforming penitentiary healthcare, a memorandum of cooperation was signed with the Ministry of Health’s Department for the Organization of Medical Care, and work began to introduce state social contracting in the probation sector.
• Kyrgyzstan. Support was provided for introducing state social contracting for HIV services for people after release: draft service standards and cost calculations were developed jointly with probation authorities. Further advocacy helped secure a twofold increase in public funding for healthcare in the penal system.
• Moldova. The training program for peer counselors recruited from among people in prison received state accreditation. A pilot program was launched in 2024, with 10 training sessions held for 6 counselors from 6 PIs. 2 trained counselors began providing services in prisons and received 25 professional supervision sessions.
• Ukraine. A standard operating procedure (SOP) governing HIV testing, treatment, and support for people held in correctional facilities was developed and adopted. A draft law was prepared to abolish the 25% deduction from the wages of people in prison for the benefit of PIs; through the joint advocacy of civil society organizations and government partners, it passed its first reading.