During Russia’s conflict towards Ukraine, native group 100% LIFE recognized alternate distribution networks to ship life-saving HIV therapies to all areas, together with conflict zones.

BACKGROUND

100% LIFE is the most important patient-led nongovernmental group (NGO) in Ukraine. Its mission is to offer entry to antiretroviral remedy for all individuals dwelling with HIV, and to advocate for elevated entry to HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and hepatitis therapies. Since 2001, 100% LIFE has carried out applications funded by the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria; USAID; the United Nations World Food Programme; and others. After the Russian invasion in 2022, 100% LIFE started additionally supporting emergency applications for reproductive well being care and different well being companies.

PRACTICE

Prior to the conflict, 100% LIFE had put preparedness plans in place, mapping out situations that included trying to find different warehouses in western Ukraine to maneuver merchandise away from Kyiv. If conflict broke out, 100% LIFE deliberate to search out corporations to offer alternate logistics companies and phone authorities authorities to grasp their emergency procedures.

As the danger of conflict elevated, 100% LIFE’s workers and their households moved to western Ukraine on the advice of 100% LIFE’s board of administrators. The early relocation of workers meant that they have been capable of preserve working in the course of the 2–3 weeks simply after the conflict began, which was important. Even earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic, the group had digitized its work stream, which eradicated any want to maneuver bodily paperwork. Even with preparedness plans in place, most emergency actions have been tailored in the course of the first month of the conflict, because it turned clear that not one of the common logistics corporations have been capable of function.

Transportation complexities in the course of the starting of the conflict offered many provide chain uncertainties. All airports have been instantly closed and flights have been cancelled. Logistics corporations stopped making deliveries, and warehouses that 100% LIFE used have been closed and couldn’t obtain well being merchandise.