From guidance to action: preventing HIV and viral hepatitis among people who inject drugs in the Eastern European region

The objectives of the webinar are to:

• present the EUDA–ECDC public health guidance (2023) and its recommendations for preventing and controlling infectious diseases among people who inject drugs;
• discuss current challenges and opportunities for expanding access to harm reduction, testing, treatment and care, including the integration of infectious diseases and drug treatment services;
• reflect on the relevance and practical application of the guidance in Eastern Europe, drawing on regional perspectives and experience from countries including Ukraine.

The webinar is intended for policymakers, public health and infectious disease experts, service providers, and representatives of civil society organisations across Eastern Europe.

Participants will gain a clearer understanding of the guidance, its evidence base and its implications for policies and programmes addressing HIV and viral hepatitis among people who inject drugs.

Background:

The EUDA–ECDC public health guidance (2023) on the prevention and control of infectious diseases among people who inject drugs reflects current evidence and public health priorities. It supports policymakers, public health programme managers and planners by providing an evidence base for strengthening national strategies, policies and programmes for people who inject drugs, who are particularly vulnerable to HIV, viral hepatitis and other drug-related infectious diseases.

In conversation with:

• Dr Anne Bergenström, Scientific Analyst, EU4MD II project, EUDA;
• Dr Anastasia Pharris, Principal Expert in Infectious Diseases, ECDC;
• Dr Kateryna Strelkova, Senior Viral Hepatitis Officer at the State Institution, Public Health Centre of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine;
• Dr Kostyantyn Dumchev, Research Scientist, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy;
• Ms Maria Plotko, Research Coordinator, Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA).

Chairperson: Eliza Kurcevič Ramonė, Scientific analyst, Health and Social Responses, EUDA.

Coordination team: Marica Ferri, Anna Ferrara, Marco Costa and Silke Vitt (EUDA).

Format: Opening remarks, speaker presentations, panel discussion, audience Q&A and closing remarks.

Duration: 90 minutes.

Participants: Open to all registered attendees. A joining link will be provided upon registration.

Webinar etiquette: Participants are welcome to use the chat during the webinar. Please keep contributions relevant, courteous and respectful, and refrain from promoting events or commercial initiatives, airing grievances, or misusing participants’ contact details. The administrator may remove contributions or participants that do not follow these guidelines. Thank you for helping to maintain a positive and focused learning environment.

Date and time: 11 November 2026, 12:00–13:30 Lisbon time (WET), 13:00–14:30 CET

Platform: Zoom