The German Aids Federation, Deutsche Aidshilfe, the European office of the Ukrainian CO “100% Life” (100 PERCENT LIFE Germany), and the National HIV/AIDS Hotline have come together to improve access to healthcare and mental health support for Ukrainian migrants living with HIV and members of key populations in Germany.  

Supported by the Elton John AIDS Foundation, this new project aims to create an accessible system for navigating healthcare services in Germany for Ukrainians living with HIV, community representatives, and others who want to care for their health.  

According to the UN, more than 1.2 million Ukrainian refugees currently reside in Germany. People living with HIV and key populations frequently face challenges in accessing treatment due to self-stigma, language barriers, unfamiliarity with the local healthcare system, and unmet mental health needs.  

According to estimates from the Regional Working Group on Migrant Health, between 1,000 and 5,300 Ukrainians living with HIV, and more than 17,000 members of key populations vulnerable to HIV, currently reside in Germany. Delays in accessing antiretroviral treatment (ART) due to procedural confusion and bureaucracy are reported, along with language and geographic barriers that complicate access to care for key populations.  

The project will include the creation of a user-friendly digital solution, leveraging the experience of DATACHECK UKRAINE — a well-known digital platform among HIV patients and service providers in Ukraine.  

DATACHECK Connect will guide users to essential services in Germany: prevention and treatment, social services, legal consultations, peer support groups, shelters, and more. The platform will also offer assisted telephone interpretation for visits to German doctors.  

A second component is the collaboration with the National HIV Hotline in Ukraine, enabling users to receive native-language consultations. This service aims to support the mental and emotional health of people living with HIV who were forced to leave Ukraine and need psychological help. It offers a culturally sensitive and trustworthy entry point for vulnerable communities.  

A third component — a legal chatbot — will also become part of the DATACHECK Connect ecosystem. It will provide answers to frequently asked questions about German laws regarding HIV/AIDS, human rights, and infectious disease regulations.  

100 PERCENT LIFE gGmbH in Germany is the European office of Ukraine’s largest patient-led organization, “100% Life.” It was established to expand support for Ukrainian patients, especially those living with HIV or from key populations who were forced to flee Ukraine.  

Deutsche Aidshilfe (DAH) is Germany’s national association to support people living with and affected to HIV, uniting around 120 regional member organizations. DAH has supports people living with HIV in Germany for over 40 years.  

The National HIV Hotline has been operating in Ukraine since 2003. Free international calls are now available via the website: http://saapf.kiev.ua/  

The Elton John AIDS Foundation was established in 1992 and is one of the leading independent AIDS organisations in the world. Its mission is simple: an end to the AIDS epidemic. The Foundation is committed to overcoming the stigma, discrimination and neglect that keeps us from ending AIDS. By mobilising its network of generous supporters and partners, the Foundation funds local experts to challenge discrimination, prevent infections, provide treatment, as well as informing government strategies to end AIDS.