The premiere of the documentary film “View of Ukraine”, which tells the stories of young Ukrainians living with HIV, took place at the UN headquarters in Bonn. The film was produced by the famous American actor Richard Gere, it is reported German wave.
The premiere is timed to the World AIDS Day, which is celebrated on December 1. The tape highlights the lives of several young Ukrainians united in the Teenergizer project. They use photo art to share their experiences, fight stigma and overcome the psychological difficulties associated with the diagnosis.
26-year-old Yana Panfilova became one of the main heroines of the film. Born with HIV, she experienced both the lack of treatment in the 2000s and social isolation. Her mother said that until 2004 there was no single HIV treatment program in Ukraine. Once, Yana’s classmate’s parents even said that their whole family should be checked because of her visit.
The situation for people with HIV in Ukraine has been greatly complicated by the war. Ruined hospitals and restrictions in the occupied territories, where people without a Russian passport are refused treatment, create huge obstacles for infected people.
Richard Gere, addressing the audience, noted that there are about 260,000 people with HIV in Ukraine, many of whom were forced to leave the country, but still need treatment and support. The actor called for ending the war, ensuring justice and creating conditions for people with HIV to live without stigmatization.
