Going the Distance for Care

Festivalgoers Embrace HIV Testing in Ukraine

AHF Ukraine provided free condoms and HIV prevention education to festival visitors at the Kurazh Charity Festival.

AHF Ukraine was invited by event organizers to join thousands of visitors at the Kurazh Charity Festival in Kyiv on May 9–10, bringing HIV awareness and free, confidential health services to one of the country’s leading cultural and social events. Festival attendees took part in HIV prevention education and interactive games, and received free condoms and lubricants, along with access to testing for HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis.

During the event, Ukraine’s Minister of Health, Viktor Liashko, visited the AHF space, engaged with the activities, and was tested for HIV, reinforcing the importance of regular screening and open dialogue on sexual health in public spaces.

Ukraine’s Minister of Health, Viktor Liashko, receives an HIV test.

“At Kurazh, we saw exceptionally strong interest in HIV and STI testing, which shows that people are increasingly ready to take responsibility for their health when testing is accessible, friendly, and stigma-free,” said Dr. Yaroslava Lopatina, AHF Ukraine Country Program Director.

"We strengthened our interactive approach to create a comfortable environment where visitors could not only get tested, but also openly discuss protection, consent, and safer sex practices. Hundreds of people visited the AHF Ukraine space over the two days of the festival,” she added.

AHF Ukraine began operations in 2009 and now serves more than 97,000 clients, continuing to expand the program amid an ongoing war.

AHF Ukraine expanded access to HIV testing at the festival, providing 250 free HIV tests for attendees.

AHF on the Frontlines in Haiti

Edwige Fleuricien (left), an AHF Haiti nurse, with community members in the Dondon–Saint-Raphaël area of northern Haiti.

AHF Haiti recently traveled to remote communities in the Dondon–Saint-Raphaël area as part of its ongoing efforts to reach clients who are unable to regularly access health facilities, providing nearly 40 people with lifesaving HIV services, including antiretroviral medications, viral load testing, adherence counseling, health education, and food assistance.

"At AHF Haiti, we are committed to ensuring that no patient is left behind. These outreach missions provide more than medication; they bring hope, support, and lifesaving care to people living with HIV in some of Haiti's most vulnerable communities," said Karine Duverger, AHF Haiti Country Program Manager.

Across Haiti, ongoing violence, displacement, and instability have strained access to essential services, including healthcare. Many families have been cut off from regular medical care as transportation routes become unsafe and health facilities struggle to maintain services.

Supplies, including food and essential medications, packed for outreach visits to rural communities.

For people living with HIV, these disruptions can put treatment adherence at risk, making routine community outreach critical to ensuring uninterrupted access to care and support.

Since launching in 2006, AHF Haiti has grown to serve more than 37,000 clients.

Due to harsh terrain, animals help carry medical supplies and materials to hard-to-reach communities.

Breaking Barriers to Lifesaving Cancer Screenings in India

AHF India Cares partner Jyothis Charitable Trust and the preventive oncology team from Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) recently conducted a monthly cancer screening camp at the Jyothis Care Centre (JCC).

Healthcare teams engage with clients during a cancer screening session at Jyothis Care Centre.

The initiative also included pre-screening education sessions for approximately 60 JCC residents and AHF clients focused on awareness and early detection of oral, breast, and cervical cancers, helping participants better understand their cancer risks and the importance of routine screening. Clients requiring additional testing or treatment were referred to TMC, where care was available free of charge or at low cost.

For people living with HIV, routine cancer screening is essential, as HIV increases the risk of several cancers and early detection improves outcomes. However, access remains limited due to high costs in private hospitals, overcrowding in public facilities, and persistent stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings.

AHF India Cares has partnered with the Sisters of the Destitute, who run Jyothis Charitable Trust and JCC, since 2013 to provide clinical care, housing, and holistic support to women living with HIV. To learn more about JCC’s work, watch our recent podcast episode, Where Faith Meets Public Health: A Conversation with Nuns from Jyothis Care Centre.

Since 2004, AHF India Cares has been a trusted provider of HIV testing and care, currently serving more than 4,400 clients.

Tune In to Our Podcast!

Season 1 Episode 5: Men's Health

This episode dives into why too many men avoid health care. Former NBA player Norman Nixon and Ugandan activist Trevor Imogel unpack how stigma, fear, and narrow ideas of masculinity push men to delay testing and treatment.