Amplifying Patients’ Treatment Experiences through Video Blogging

"I finally got an access to hepatitis C treatment. I finally got a chance to save my life." – Anton Basenko

People living with hepatitis C are celebrating their newfound access to interferon-free treatment regimens and sharing their experiences to encourage others to get tested, know their hepatitis C status, and learn about available treatment programs. By video blogging, people living with hepatitis C can connect with others going through similar treatment access barriers, side effects, stigmatization, and other daily struggles, while voicing concerns in their own words. In this video blog series a patient documents his experience when accessing and starting direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in Ukraine.

In 2017, key populations in the Ukraine are accessing an all oral, direct-acting antiviral regimen (sofosbuvir/ledipasvir) for the first time. It is due to the advocacy by organizations like the Alliance for Public Health that have helped lower the price of sofosbuvir to USD300 per vial, registered sofosbuvir and other DAAs in the country, and ensured that drugs are among those procured with state and local budgets. These efforts have scaled up people’s access to shorter and more tolerable treatment regimens.

In the first video “It Happened!”, Anton Basenko discusses his choice of drugs, side effects, and other details about his experience when starting sofosbuvir + daclatasvir. Please turn on the english subtitles in the bottom right corner of the video screen.

In the second video "Expecting the miracle" (in English), Anton Basenko talks about his first viral load/polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test after starting treatment.

In the third video “I’m speechless!” Anton Basenko received his first PCR test results. Please turn on the english subtitles in the bottom right corner of the video screen.

In the fourth video "Adverse effects ? - No idea!" Anton continues his story about HCV treatment. This time he’s talking about adverse effects during the treatment. Please turn on the english subtitles in the bottom right corner of the video screen.

"The HCV is undetected" : after 3 month of treatment Anton Basenko is happily jumping! In the 5th episode Anton also answers some question, received from blog followers. Let’s watch the episode and don’t forget about turning on English subtitles

To follow Anton’s story visit:
http://aph.org.ua/en/resources/useful-information-for-partner-ngos/