The Ukraine: sex, drug addiction, poverty and AIDS in 2011
Five years ago Brent Stirton visited the Ukraine for the first time, and after his journey he created his social photo spread about the situation with HIV-infected and people who are getting ill from AIDS, and now the photographer has returned the country again.
1. Krivoy Rog, the Ukraine, August 31, 2011. A young man having AIDS is in a coma. He has some days left, after that he will die. Since his immune system can not function normally, and a number of CD4+ lymphocytes is decreasing he will die from the diseases connected with AIDS. Such a poor condition is a result of a lack of antiretroviral medicines. The list of people getting antiretroviral medicines has remained the same since the end of 2010. People who were not put in the lists and whose condition became worse for the last year have been practically sentenced to death be the government. Ministry of Health controls the acquisitions of antiretroviral medicines, and because of corruption it’s impossible to give the medicines to those people who will die without them. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images.)
2. Donetsk, the Ukraine, September 1, 2011. A HIV-infected man with his healthy wife and adopted daughter. The future husband and wife met in the hospital for people with tuberculosis, where she worked as a doctor, and since then they have been living together. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
3. A group of HIV-infected people and their children who wanted to keep their faces in secret. Odessa, Ukraine, September 4, 2011. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images.)
4. Kharkov,Ukraine, August 26, 2011. Svetlana, a 33 years old woman, is trying to get rid of the drug addiction with the help friends of hers. She has lost the lower jaw because of the infection caused by admixtures in the drugs. She has a scar on her belly remaining after the operation that was caused by often beatings from her cohabitant. Despite all the conditions Svetlana expresses optimism and brings up a 12-years old daughter, the girl is healthy and does her best at school. Svetlana is fighting her drug addiction without help of the health authorities. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
5. Kharkov, the Ukraine, August 28, 2011. Drug addicts are preparing an amphetamine cocktail on basis of ephedrine. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images.)
6. Kharkov, the Ukraine, August 28, 2011. Drug addicts are preparing an amphetamine cocktail on basis of ephedrine. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images.)
7. A group of homeless people in Odessa, the Ukraine, September 4, 2011. Drugs and alcohol is a way of putting up with their life for them. 30% of them are HIV-infected. According to UNICEF there are about a half of a million homeless children living in the Ukraine. The amount of girls is lower than boys among them; girls become prostitutes in order to earn their living. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images.)
8. Krivoy Rog, Ukraine, August 28, 2011. Maria, a drug addict and a prostitute, is “serving” a client in a rented room. Maria takes drugs every day and “serves” a lot of men every week, but she remains HIV-negative. She says that prostitution is the only way to earn her and her daughter living and buy drugs. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
9. Krivoy Rog, the Ukraine, August 28, 2011. Maria, a drug addict and a prostitute, is “serving” a client in a rented room. Maria takes drugs every day and “serves” a lot of men every week, but she remains HIV-negative. She says that prostitution is the only way to earn her and her daughter living and buy drugs. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
10. Odessa, September 4, 2011. Gynecological examination of prostitutes in a car of the “Vera, nadejda, lybov” (Faith, hope, love) Hospital. A driver, a gynecologist and two social workers work in a team. The hospital’s car driving around the city, the members of the team offer to make HIV-tests carry a gynecological examination and hand out condoms. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
11. Donetsk, September 4. 2011. A woman and four adopted HIV-infected children. She plans to adopt two more kids. For the last years people in the Ukraine became more tolerant towards people with AIDS, and more and more HIV-infected children get new parents. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
12. The Ukraine, September 6, 2011. An orphanage of Holy Ascension Monastery was founded by Russian Orthodox Church and now 253 children live there. 44 of them are 44 HIV-infected and they live in a special building where they receive special treatment. Children get antiretroviral medicines every day; those who had come of the school age attend classes in the nearest village. Younger children are educated according to the kindergarten program in the orphanage. The orphanage has been receiving HIV-infected children since 2002 and due to this fact it differs from other orphans in the Ukraine that are usually negative towards infected children. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
13. Poltava, the Ukraine, August 26, 2011. An HIV-infected drug addicted prostitute next to her house before “going to work”. In the conditions of unemployment prostitution is growing and thriving, and drug addiction is its logical continuation; it also favors the extension of prostitution. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
14. Poltava, the Ukraine, August 26, 2011. A HIV-infected prostitute and drug addict “works” at the road in the suburb of the city. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
15. Kiev, the Ukraine, August 25, 2011. A HIV-infected mother is getting a dose of heroine substitute. The program of treatment using substitutes of drug substances doesn’t evoke trust on the part of the authorities, and they can’t still put up with it in spite of the fact that such practical experience is of a success all over the world. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
16. Poltava, the Ukraine, August 26, 2011. Drug addicts in an apartment. He is a former football player; she is a mother of some children. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
17. Poltava, the Ukraine, August 26, 2011. A drug addict is trying to treat a leg affected by septicaemia in his dirty apartment. His 80 years old mother is side by side with him. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
18. Kiev, the Ukraine, September 2011. A hospital for people with tuberculosis. The personnel work in very hard conditions; most of their patients are criminals and drug addicts. Constant lack of financing and patients attacks aimed at the personnel are ignored. The lack of money is not a surprising event and police officers are afraid to be infected, that is why they are inactive. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
19. Poltava, the Ukraine, August 26, 2011. A hospital for people with tuberculosis. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
20. Poltava, the Ukraine, August 26, 2011. The only hospital for people with tuberculosis in the city does not obtain adequate financing. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
21. Kiev, the Ukraine, September 7, 2011. The hospital for people with tuberculosis. The personnel work in very hard conditions; most of their patients are criminals and drug addicts. Constant lack of financing and patients attacks aimed at the personnel are ignored. The lack of money is not a surprising event and police officers are afraid to be infected, that is why they are inactive. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
22. Prisoners with clinical stage of AIDS are dying being confined to bed in the AIDS Treatment Center, Kiev, the Ukraine, August 25, 2011. The hospital is one of two like hospitals in the Ukraine devoted to the treatment of drug addicts and people having AIDS. The regimen here is strict enough, but this is the only way for personnel to protect themselves from patients’ aggression. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
23. Kherson, the Ukraine, August 18, 2011. Prisoners with AIDS in the Intensive Care Department at the Prison Hospital. Kherson prison is the only prison in the Ukraine where people with AIDS are treated, but now there are not programs on provision the prisoners with antiretroviral medicines. The hospital used the money for modernization that had been received from the authorities to buy medicines, but it is not enough. There is no equipment for making tests, that is why they have to send samples to Odessa. For the last year the amount of prisoners with AIDS tripled, but it is very difficult to get the exact statistical information in the Ukraine. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
24. Kherson, the Ukraine, August 18, 2011. Prisoners with AIDS in the Intensive Care Department at the Prison Hospital. Kherson prison is the only prison in the Ukraine where people with AIDS are treated, but now there are not programs on provision the prisoners with antiretroviral medicines. The hospital used the money for modernization that had been received from the authorities to buy medicines, but it is not enough. There is no equipment for making tests that is why they have to send samples to Odessa. For the last year the amount of prisoners with AIDS tripled, but it is very difficult to get the exact statistical information in the Ukraine. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
25. Poltava, the Ukraine, August 25, 2011. Three prisoners are being tested for AIDS. The rests and antiretroviral medicines have come into the hospital recently. HIV-infected prisoners receive a minimum treatment. In the conditions of lack of antiretroviral medicines HIV infection means a death sentence since poor food and bad living conditions affecting the weak immune system. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images.)
26. Krivoy Rog, the Ukraine, August 31, 2011. Drug addicts in a psychoneurologic dispensary. Body detoxification is an effective procedure allowing to prepare physiologically patients for drug addiction treatment. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
27. Dnepropetrovsk, the Ukraine, August 30, 2011. A woman is waiting the results of the express-test for HIV infection. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
28. Kiev, the Ukraine, August 25, 2011. A pregnant woman is receiving the result of the test for AIDS in a movable clinic. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images.)
29. Dnepropetrovsk, the Ukraine, August 30, 2011. Express test for AIDS among drug addicts. Olga worked as a surgeon, but she was infected during the operation at the end of 2000. The chief physician tried to make her quit but when she refused, she was humiliated and pressed by her colleagues. Eventually, she quitted because of rumors spreading in the hospital, according to them she was a prostitute. After her discharge she became to help HIV-infected people. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
30. Kharkov, the Ukraine, August 29, 2011. Sergey helps his partially paralyzed friend to take a shower in a rehabilitation center. Taking drugs on the base of ephedrine resulted in paralysis; the drugs caused permanent damages of the nervous system. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
31. Dnepropetrovsk, the Ukraine, August 30, 2011. The only condom plant in the country. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
32. Dnepropetrovsk, the Ukraine, August 30, 2011. The only condom plant in the country. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
33. Krivoy Rog, the Ukraine, August 31, 2011. HIV-infected Alexander is bathing his mother at their place. Alexander takes care about her, but he worries about the progressing disease that can prevent him from helping the old woman. And there is a reason to worry — Alexander has not been put in the list of antiretroviral medicines recipients. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
34. Kiev, the Ukrain, August 24, 2011. Members of Christian organization consisting of those who have got rid of drug addiction are praying at the stairs near their office. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
35. Donetsk, the Ukraine, August 16, 2011. 33-years old Sasha had been taking drugs for 12 years till the religion helped him to get rid of his drug addiction. He says that God found him and saved him from himself. He is keeping on to spread the drugs, but at the same time he collects used syringes for exchange program and gives drug addicts — regular visitors of his house — new syringes. Taking drugs he brought to ruin his house where he lived and now he is trying to restore it. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
36. Poltava, the Ukraine, August 26, 2011. Sergey — a veteran and a former drug addict — supports people trying to get rid of the addiction. He participated in the program of drug substitute in order to give up taking heroine and live freely. He is the first in Poltava who managed to pass the painful procedure completely and become healthy. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
37. Donetsk, the Ukraine, September 1, 2011. 10 years old HIV-infected girl Alina is being examined in a movable laboratory. Alina is a daughter of HIV-infected drug addicts, her height, weight and blood is examined and she gets antiretroviral medicines. The girl is very independent, the most part of her time she spends with her grandmother and brings up herself, and she asks doctors about her body and the disease clearly understanding that she is ill. She cooks, does her room and goes to school by herself. She is hard to not admire. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
38. Odessa, the Ukraine, September 4, 2011. Two brothers living in poverty. Their mother is an alcoholic, and they are thrown upon their own resources. Indifference and brutal treatment on the part of parents is the very reason why so many children become homeless. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
39. Kiev, the Ukraine, August 12, 2010. Six years old Nadya living in the orphan “Berezka” has AIDS. Nadya is elderer than other 20 children from the orphan, and it is highly improbable that she will be adopted. In spite the fact she is a very impressive and independent child, and she likes the visitors very much. The orphan where 20 children at the age of from 0 to 4 years old, besides Nadya, live has received antiretroviral medicines recently. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
40. Donetsk, the Ukraine, September 2, 2011. The only orphan for HIV-infected children in the Ukraine. Here children undergo a special course of treatment and they are given antiretroviral medicines, in order to live like healthy people. With the lapse of time the prejudices against adoption of HIV-children are disappearing in the Ukraine, and more and more children find their new parents. For the last six years the amount of adoptions has increased appreciably and children got the hope to avoid growing up alone. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
41. Donetsk, the Ukraine, September 2, 2011. The only orphan for HIV-infected children in the Ukraine. Here children undergo a special course of treatment and they are given antiretroviral medicines, in order to live like healthy people. With the lapse of time the prejudices against adoption of HIV-children are disappearing in the Ukraine, and more and more children find their new parents. For the last six years the amount of adoptions has increased appreciably and children got the hope to avoid growing up alone. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
42. Kharkov, the Ukraine, August 28, 2011. The orphan “Zelenaya rosha” is a house both for usual and HIV-infected children, and also for children whose parents were deprived of parental rights. The orphan is one of a few orphans where the HIV-infected children receive special attention, undergo a course of special treatment and animal therapy, and do exercises,; and the orphan has a special Department for newborns. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
43. Kharkov, the Ukraine, August 28, 2011. The orphan “Zelenaya rosha” is a house both for usual and HIV-infected children, and also for children whose parents were deprived of parental rights. The orphan is one of a few orphans where the HIV-infected children receive special attention, undergo a course of special treatment and animal therapy, and do exercises,; and the orphan has a special Department for newborns. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
44. The Ukraine, September 6, 2011. The orphan at of Holy Ascension Monastery was founded by Russian Orthodox Church and now 253 children live there. 44 of them are 44 HIV-infected and they live in a special building where they receive special treatment. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
45. Chernivtsi, the Ukraine, September 6, 2011. The orphan at of Holy Ascension Monastery. Younger children are educated according to the kindergarten program in the orphanage. The orphanage has been receiving HIV-infected children since 2002 and due to this fact it differs from other orphans in the Ukraine that are usually negative towards infected children. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
46. Chernivtsi, the Ukraine, September 6, 2011. The orphanage has been receiving HIV-infected children since 2002 and due to this fact it differs from other orphans in the Ukraine that are usually negative towards infected children. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
47. Chernivtsi, the Ukraine, September 6, 2011. The orphan at of Holy Ascension Monastery. (Photo by Brent Stirton/Reportage by Getty Images)
