AIDS in the Ukraine
"But please: promise us that you won't t show the film in Odessa."
Several states of the former Soviet Union have lost control over the spreading of the AIDS-epidemic in their territories. One of the hardest afflicted regions is the district of Odessa in the Ukraine. According to WHO estimates 150,000 people here are infected with HIV.
"We've witnessed conditions in Odessa actually allowing for this monstrous figure."
We went there in Odessa to make a documentary that is outlined on this website.
"Society has resigned to an epidemic drug addiction. The fagged out Ukrainian state has retired from many of its responsibilities. The health system lacks the most basic things - all the more for people, who are useless."
"There's a whole strata of people here called 'dregs of society'. AIDS patients figure among them."
(Inge Banczyk, Immunological Day Clinic of the Vivantes Auguste Viktoria hospital -AVK-, Berlin Managing board of the Berliner AIDS-Aid)
"There's a whole strata of people here called 'dregs of society'. AIDS patients figure among them."
(Inge Banczyk, Immunological Day Clinic of the Vivantes Auguste Viktoria hospital -AVK-, Berlin Managing board of the Berliner AIDS-Aid)
Excellent conditions for the virus to spread.
One avoids them like leper. There are no remedies for them - AIDS-drugs are expensive - and likewise no pain relievers, when they are dying. But pain relievers are cheap.
So why should people test, if they are HIV-infected? 1. The test is not for free; 2. there's no prospect of a cure and 3. they rightly assume that they're going to be discriminated. The infected do everything to hide this fact. Excellent conditions for the virus to spread.
For two years now the Auguste Viktoria hospital is actively fighting AIDS in the Ukraine.
In October 2003 we accompanied Inge with the camera to Odessa.
So why should people test, if they are HIV-infected? 1. The test is not for free; 2. there's no prospect of a cure and 3. they rightly assume that they're going to be discriminated. The infected do everything to hide this fact. Excellent conditions for the virus to spread.
For two years now the Auguste Viktoria hospital is actively fighting AIDS in the Ukraine.
In October 2003 we accompanied Inge with the camera to Odessa.
We promised 18 people, who participated in our film, NOT to show the film in Ukraine.
Hence we can't present them on this website.
In-patient department of the AIDS centre
Inge Banczyk, Immunological Day Clinic of the AVK, Berlin
Port of Odessa 2003 2003
Inge Banczyk, Sister Larissa and Dr. Sinofij on their way to a patient