Eurasian Harm Reduction Association condemns the Russian war against Ukraine
The values of the Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA), our mission, and all our work are aimed at ensuring the people’s rights and freedoms, health, and well-being.
We consider the actions of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine as an act of genocide against the people of Ukraine and a grave violation of the international humanitarian and human rights law. We condemn and oppose Russia’s act of aggression and incursion into the sovereign state of Ukraine in violation of international law.
We make every effort to support Ukrainians, first of all, those from among the representatives of key populations affected by HIV, TB, including people who use drugs, who became a victim of this war and genocide.
In regard to the above-mentioned, EHRA will stop any partnership with organizations or individuals who do not support the position of the EHRA on the issue of Russian aggression against Ukraine. By default, the position represents the opinion of all EHRA members.
Regional and global public health professionals and community and civil society activists call on WHO to make a strong statement on Ukraine, with clear public health messaging and a bold plan to support people in need and mitigate human suffering that will come with the escalation of the Russian military activities in the Eastern part of Ukraine and Donbas region in particular!
Regional and global public health professionals and community and civil society activists call on WHO to make a strong statement on Ukraine, with clear public health messaging and a bold plan to support people in need and mitigate human suffering that will come with the escalation of the Russian military activities in the Eastern part of Ukraine and Donbas region in particular!
This document aims to provide operational guidance for the prevention and control of infectious diseases in the context of mass exodus of displaced people from Ukraine. It is important to note, however, that these are just few of the risks to the health and well-being of the displaced people, and that the measures described in this document should be part of a more generalised health measures, including diagnosis and treatment of chronic disease and mental and psychosocial health.
The International Network of People who Use Drugs (INPUD) stands in solidarity with the Ukranian Network of People who Use Drugs (PUD.UA/VOLNA), the Ukranian Network of Women who Use Drugs (UNWUD/VONA) and all Ukrainian peers, colleagues, and friends against the invasion of their country by Putin’s regime. This is a clear, unequivocal act of aggression against a sovereign country and its’ people that is also against the will of many Russian people, who are vocalising their dissent, despite personal risk.
The Pompidou Group, together with leading European psycho-trauma experts, has developed recommendations on how people can better interact and communicate with persons who have experienced a crisis or difficult life event. The recommendations were developed at the request of the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior and in light of the traumatic situations experienced by the Ukrainian population due to the ongoing Russian hostilities in Ukraine.
INCB reminds all Governments that in acute emergencies it is possible to utilize simplified control procedures for the export, transportation, and provision of medicinal products containing controlled substances.
Competent national authorities may permit the export of medicines containing narcotic drugs and/or psychotropic substances to the areas in the absence of the corresponding import authorizations and/or estimates. Urgent deliveries do not need to be included in the estimates of the receiving country.
EHRA together with a number of partners sent out a statement on the urgency and approaches to ensure continuity of essential life-saving treatments for Ukrainians who have to flee their country due to the ongoing war, with a particular focus on two areas – HIV and opioid dependency.
The statement was sent out to:
Ms. Stella Kyriakides, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety
Ms. Sandra Gallina, Director General, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
Ms. Ylva Johansson, European Commissioner for Home Affairs
Mr. Pascal Canfin, MEP, Chair of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, European Parliament
Ms. Sara Cerdas, co-Chair of the European Parliament’s Working Group on Health
Ms. Stéphanie Seydoux, French Ambassador for Global Health
Mr. Clément Beaune, French Secretary of State in charge of European Affairs
Mr. Vlastimil Válek, Minister of Health of the Czech Republic
Ms. Pavla Chomynová, Head of the Czech National Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Addiction
Mr. Adam Niedzielski, Minister of Health of the Republic of Poland
Mr. Piotr Jabłoński, Director, National Bureau for Drug Prevention, Republic of Poland
Ms. Anna Marzec-Bogusławska, Director, National AIDS Centre, Republic of Poland
Mr. Vladimír Lengvarský, Minister of Health of the Slovak Republic
Mr. Ľubomír Okruhlica, Chief Expert of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic for drug addiction medicine
Mr. Miklós Kásler, Minister of Human Capacities of the Republic of Hungary
Mr. Alexandru Rafila, Minister of Health of Romania
The Romanian National Anti-drug Agency
The Romanian National Centre for Mental Health
European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
45 civil society organizations from different European countries including Ukraine requested relevant UN, EU structures and humanitarian institutions to urgently support and set up of an uninterrupted supply chain of humanitarian assistance to the affected populations within the country, and to establish safe humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians from Ukraine.
