TBEC Executive Director Yuliia Kalancha co-reported the joint statement “HIV, Tuberculosis, Viral Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections” prepared by the EU Civil Society Forum for presentation during the EU Health Policy Platform Annual Meeting.
The EU Health Policy Platform meeting is a collaborative online tool that allows European Commission services, health-related interest groups, and other stakeholders to easily communicate with each other - was held on 19 April 2023 in Luxembourg.
In her speech, Yuliia Kalancha called on the European Commission to promote the mainstreaming of issues related to refugees and other key populations in connection with socially dangerous diseases and, in particular, to support the work of European non-governmental organizations in the following areas:
● Identification and elimination of barriers among refugees and other key populations to access medical services (in particular, conducting a research on the effectiveness of online and offline tools, assessments, and situation analysis);
● Access to comprehensive health services provided by a functional cross-country referral mechanism;
● Raising awareness of refugees and key populations on their rights and opportunities in access to medical services for TB and other socially dangerous diseases;
● Ensuring effective intersectoral cooperation to enhance joint results in the fight against socially dangerous diseases;
● Timely response to health emergencies related to migration and humanitarian crises;
● Ensuring access of representatives of key populations to medicines, especially in their form to treat children.
“Unfortunately, in the current circumstances, due to a significant outflow of resources to confront the Russian Federation, Europe may be set back in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly target 3.3 of the Goal Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Therefore, it is extremely important for all of us to mobilize our efforts to restore peace and justice, in order to keep moving forward along the path of transforming the world, where a person will be at the highest value again.” - concluded the TBEC Executive Director.
