Adaptation of Ukrainian refugees living with HIV in Estonia I Адаптація українських біженців, які живуть із ВІЛ, в Естонії

Adaptation of Ukrainian refugees living with HIV in Estonia

We are pleased to inform you that with the support of the American Embassy in Estonia, our organization has created a separate direction focused on Ukrainian refugees living with HIV and their loved ones. The goal is to provide comprehensive psychosocial support to Ukrainian refugees living with HIV and facilitate their successful integration into Estonian society.

The main methods of our work are consultations, clarification and transfer of information, assistance when contacting various government agencies, and support in solving social issues.

We offer the following services:

  • Information consultations and support in resolving various administrative issues: (receipt of documents; registration of place of residence; registration in various government agencies and portals; assistance in finding a job; training in digital skills)
  • Accompaniment in obtaining social and medical services from other specialists.
  • Assistance in communicating with government and medical institutions (we provide services in 4 languages: English, Estonian, Russian and Ukrainian).
  • Psychological consulting
  • Social consulting
  • Self-help groups

Another area of work will be counseling Ukrainian refugees who are not HIV-positive on issues of prevention and testing for HIV and hepatitis C.

We offer a client-oriented approach, when the client receives all the necessary specialist services in one place.

Services will be provided in:

Narva at Linda 4 ( endine „ Baltijets “), 6. Korrus

Contact person – Olga Geisulenko , tel: +37256651213, e-mail: olha.heisulenko@ehpv.ee

Jõhvi at Rakvere tn 4

Contact person – Olga Geisulenko , tel: +37256651213, e-mail: olha.heisulenko@ehpv.ee

Tallinn at Rävala address pst 8-1014

Contact person – Svetlana Prunis, tel: +372 55680942, e-mail: prunissvetlana@gmail.com

Tartu at Kalevi tn 51

Contact person – Krista Joost , tel: +372 5340 1706, e-mail: krista.joost@gmail.com

, as well as in Pärnu and Saaremaa .

Contact person – Krista Joost , tel: +372 5340 1706, e-mail: krista.joost@gmail.com

To receive the service, please register by calling or emailing a consultant from the city closest to you.

A consultant will assist in scheduling an appointment with a psychologist and social worker.

Additional Information:

Coordinator Ekaterina Smirnova, tel: +37255578131, e-mail: Jekaterina.smirnova@ehpv.ee

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Адаптація українських біженців, які живуть із ВІЛ, в Естонії

Раді вам повідомити, що за підтримки Американського посольства в Естонії в нашій організації з’явився окремий напрямок, орієнтований на українських біженців, які живуть з ВІЛ та їх близьких. Метою є надання комплексної психосоціальної підтримки українським біженцям, які живуть із ВІЛ, для їх успішної інтеграції в Естонії.

Основними методами нашої роботи є консультації, роз’яснення та передача інформації, допомога при зверненні до різних державних установ, підтримка у вирішенні соціальних питань.

Ми пропонуємо такі послуги:

  • Інформаційні консультації та підтримка у вирішенні різних адміністративних питань: (отримання документів; реєстрація місця проживання; реєстрація в різних держ. установах та порталах; допомога у пошуку роботи; навчання цифровим навичкам)
  • Супровід для отримання соціальних та медичних послуг у інших спеціалістів.
  • Допомога у спілкуванні з державними та медичними установами (ми надаємо послуги чотирма мовами: англійською, естонською, російською та українською).
  • Психологічне  консультування
  • Соціальне консультування
  • Групи самодопомоги.

Іншим напрямком роботи буде консультування українських біженців, які не є ВІЛ-позитивними, з питань профілактики та тестування на ВІЛ та гепатит С.

Ми пропонуємо клієнтоорієнтований підхід, коли клієнт отримує всі необхідні послуги спеціалістів в одному місці.

Послуги надаватимуться у:

Нарві за адресою Linda 4 (endine „Baltijets“), 6. Korrus

Контактна особа – Ольга Гейсуленко, тел: +37256651213, е-пошта: olha.heisulenko@ehpv.ee

Йихві за адресою Rakvere tn 4

Контактна особа – Ольга Гейсуленко, тел: +37256651213, е-пошта: olha.heisulenko@ehpv.ee

Таллінні за адресою Rävala pst 8-1014

Контактна особа – Светлана Прунис , тел: +372 55680942, е-пошта: prunissvetlana@gmail.com

Тарту за адресою Kalevi tn 51

Контактна особа – Кріст Йоост, тел: +372 5340 1706, е-пошта: krista.joost@gmail.com

, а також у Пярну та на Сааремаа.

Контактна особа – Кріст Йоост, тел: +372 5340 1706, е-пошта: krista.joost@gmail.com

Для отримання послуги просимо зареєструватися, зателефонувавши або написавши на електронну пошту консультанту з найближчого до вас міста.

Запис до психолога та соціального працівника відбувається через консультанта.

Додаткова інформація:

Координатор Катерина Смирнова, тел: +37255578131, е-пошта: Jekaterina.smirnova@ehpv.ee

Dear residents of Israel!

Dear residents of Israel!

If you are in Estonia as a tourist and are not a resident of the Baltic countries, Finland or Norway and are currently unable to return to your home country, or are running out of antiretroviral or replacement therapy, please contact us by email: latsin.alijev@ehpv.ee or by phone +37258706070.

Also, find us via ehpv.ee

Sincerely,

Team of the Estonian Network of People Luving  (EHPV – Tallinn, Narva, Jõhvi, Jõgeva, Tartu, Pärnu, Saaremaa)

HIV statistics 2023

As 10.10.2023, 128-HIV-infected persons have been diagnosed in Estonia.

A total of 10,710 people have been diagnosed with HIV in Estonia over the years.

More information: from the link

World Mental Health Day 2023

World Mental Health Day 2023 – Mental health is a universal human right. World Mental Health Day 2023 is an opportunity for people and communities to unite behind the theme ‘Mental health is a universal human right” to improve knowledge, raise awareness and drive actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health as a universal human right.

Mental health is a basic human right for all people. Everyone, whoever and wherever they are, has a right to the highest attainable standard of mental health. This includes the right to be protected from mental health risks, the right to available, accessible, acceptable, and good quality care, and the right to liberty, independence and inclusion in the community.

Good mental health is vital to our overall health and well-being. Yet one in eight people globally are living with mental health conditions, which can impact their physical health, their well-being, how they connect with others, and their livelihoods. Mental health conditions are also affecting an increasing number of adolescents and young people.

Having a mental health condition should never be a reason to deprive a person of their human rights or to exclude them from decisions about their own health. Yet all over the world, people with mental health conditions continue to experience a wide range of human rights violations. Many are excluded from community life and discriminated against, while many more cannot access the mental health care they need or can only access care that violates their human rights.

Is corporate support for LGBT+ community breaking prejudices in Estonia?

Baltic Pride 2023 in Tallinn, Saturday, June 10, 2023. Source: Siim Lõvi / ERR

Shameema Binte Rahman explores Estonian companies’ support during the Baltic Price Festival and for the LGBT+ cause in Estonia in general.

She is pliant in allowing others to address her as “she” or “they” but implores to remain anonymous when talking about her experiences as a lesbian in Estonia. She says, “My girlfriend is Estonian, and we have lived here together for five years now. This year the government passed the long-awaited law on same-sex marriage, which will come into force in January next year, and we too plan to get married next year. Now the legal protection of same-sex relationships is settled, but society still has a ways to go in terms of accepting me.

The recent incident in which a gay pastor was stabbed in the name of God in a Tallinn bar during the Baltic Pride Festival in June is a stark reminder of the rigid and violent heteronormative prejudices that still persist today.

Stories of violence and hatred against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and other self-claimed identity – LGBTQIA+ or LGBT+ people in Estonia are mounting, both anecdotally and in public discourse. Although Estonia legalized same-sex activity immediately after its independence from the Soviet Union, attitudes toward lesbians and gays have remained intolerant since Soviet law deemed it criminal.

With the passing of the same-sex marriage law, another significant event took place in June, the month of the Pride festival. Several local and multinational companies openly declared their support for the LGBT+ community. According to the official website of Baltic Pride 2023, a total of 16 organizations showed their open support; nine of them are businesses and the rest are NGOs, funding agencies and embassies. These companies have made a mark, while thousands of companies in Estonia are silent about their support for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Original news: news

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Friday’s World Heart Day

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally. The good news is that most of them can be prevented by addressing risk factors: maintaining a healthy diet, increasing physical activity, avoiding tobacco & reducing alcohol consumption.

More tips to keep your heart healthy from the World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday’s World Heart Day: https://www.who.int/…/cardiovascular-diseases-(cvds)

Festheart Festival in Tartu and Rakvere

Autumn in Estonia promises to be a season filled with cultural events, and one of the most anticipated among them is the Festheart Festival, which will take place in Tartu and Rakvere. This film arts festival promises to offer unique cinematic experiences to its audience.

The Festheart Festival stands out for its richness and diversity. Its program will feature films from various countries, united by a passion for cinema. The detailed program of the Festheart Festival is available on the official event website: festheart.ee.

The Festheart Festival is also an initiator of socially significant projects. This year, the festival collaborates with the Estonian Network of People Living with HIV, www.ehpv.ee ( MSM Kontrollpunkt EHPV) to raise awareness about the importance of HIV prevention and sexual health care. At the festival, anyone interested can receive a complimentary kit, including an HIV test, lubricants, and condoms, as well as receive consultations on PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis).

The Festheart Festival is not just a celebration of cinematic art but also an opportunity to learn more about important aspects of health and prevention. Join this unique event, enjoy high-quality films, and take care of your well-being. Don’t miss the chance to become a part of the Festheart Festival and immerse yourself in the world of cinema and current social issues.

Tartu: Elekriteatris, from September 29th to October 1st

Rakvere: Teatrikinos, from October 6th to 8th

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION AUTHORISES ViiV HEALTHCARE’S APRETUDE (CABOTEGRAVIR LONG-ACTING AND TABLETS) FOR HIV PREVENTION

  • Given as few as six times per year, cabotegravir has demonstrated superior efficacy to a daily oral PrEP option (FTC/TDF tablets) in reducing the risk of HIV acquisition in clinical trials.1,2,3,4
  • With approximately 100,000 people newly diagnosed with HIV each year in Europe,5 expanding HIV prevention options is crucial in reducing HIV transmission.

London, 19 September 2023 – ViiV Healthcare, the global specialist HIV company majority owned by GSK, with Pfizer and Shionogi as shareholders, today announced that the European Commission has authorised Apretude (cabotegravir long-acting (LA) injectable and tablets) for HIV prevention. Cabotegravir is indicated in combination with safer sex practices for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 infection in high-risk adults and adolescents (at least 12 years of age), weighing at least 35 kg.

Cabotegravir LA injectable and tablets for PrEP is the first and only HIV prevention option approved in the European Union (EU) that reduces the number of doses needed for effective HIV prevention from 365 daily pills to as few as six injections per year. Cabotegravir LA injectable and tablets for PrEP has demonstrated superior efficacy to daily oral emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (FTC/TDF) in reducing the risk of HIV acquisition in clinical trials, giving people in the EU more options for PrEP.1,2,3,4

Link to original news to site

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We introduce a new visual style created by Noit, a development and design studio.

We introduce a new visual style created by Noit, a development and design studio.

As part of the “MSM Checkpoint EHPV” project, supported by the Elton John Foundation and the Estonian Network of People Living with HIV, we have developed a series of banners that inform about the important services provided by MSM EHPV checkpoints in Estonia.

Furthermore, in the near future, we will be pleased to present an informational resource dedicated to HIV prevention before and after potential exposure (PrEP and PEP) as well as an animated video about the operations of MSM checkpoints in Estonia.

The foundation of our concept is to encourage men engaging in sexual relationships with men to prioritize their health and take care of their partners’ health. We emphasize the importance of testing and treatment, the use of PrEP and PEP, access to condoms, and the provision of information and support.

This project aims to have a significant impact on the MSM community in Estonia, promoting a healthier lifestyle and HIV prevention.

Cell reports medicine

Highlights

  • Venetoclax delays viral rebound in a humanized mouse model of HIV infection
  • Venetoclax depletes intact HIV DNA ex vivo in cells from people living with HIV on ART
  • The HIV reservoir is enriched in cells with higher expression of BH3-only proteins

Summary

HIV-1 persists indefinitely in people living with HIV (PLWH) on antiretroviral therapy (ART). If ART is stopped, the virus rapidly rebounds from long-lived latently infected cells. Using a humanized mouse model of HIV-1 infection and CD4+ T cells from PLWH on ART, we investigate whether antagonizing host pro-survival proteins can prime latent cells to die and facilitate HIV-1 clearance. Venetoclax, a pro-apoptotic inhibitor of Bcl-2, depletes total and intact HIV-1 DNA in CD4+ T cells from PLWH ex vivo. This venetoclax-sensitive population is enriched for cells with transcriptionally higher levels of pro-apoptotic BH3-only proteins. Furthermore, venetoclax delays viral rebound in a mouse model of persistent HIV-1 infection, and the combination of venetoclax with the Mcl-1 inhibitor S63845 achieves a longer delay in rebound compared with either intervention alone. Thus, selective inhibition of pro-survival proteins can induce death of HIV-1-infected cells that persist on ART, extending time to viral rebound.

Graphical abstract

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