Football Game Raises AIDS Awareness in Ukraine

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The UN says that the world AIDS epidemic is slowing down but activists say that in Ukraine AIDS cases are increasing. In Kyiv a football match is used to highlight the increasing tragedy of AIDS.

December 1st is World AIDS Day. And in Ukraine, activists again urged authorities to help stop the epidemic.

[Dmitry Sherembey, Activist]:
"Ukraine has spent more than 6.2 million US dollars on a stadium in Kyiv. These funds would be enough for 30 years of treatment for all HIV positive people in Ukraine. Our organization simply sees that even one life is more valuable than this entire stadium."

The All-Ukrainian Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS says that around 360 thousand Ukrainians have the virus.

But only 25 thousand receive treatment.

The country has had problems with financing state programs for HIV/AIDS.

[Natalie Nizovaya, Director, National AIDS Center]:
"During the first 9 months of 2011, 473 new cases were registered in Ukraine. It's a slightly higher figure than last year."

Activists say that people also need to be educated about the causes of HIV/AIDS.

Student volunteers use football to raise awareness about AIDS in the most active manner.

[Oksana Lukyanenko, Volunteer]:
Do not play with this disease. Because by playing with it, you do harm to yourself."

According to activists in Ukraine, about 11 people die of AIDS every day.

The total number of AIDS related deaths in the country is more than 23 thousand.

NTD News, Kyiv, Ukraine