The non-governmental organization “BCD” (hereinafter “BCD”) was registered in August 2019.
We represent the interests of a community of 2.5 million people affected by the viral hepatitis epidemic in Ukraine.
The history of BCD stems from the personal experience of its leader and founder, Yuriy Voynalovich, who in 2007 learned of his diagnosis—viral hepatitis C (HCV). At that time, effective treatment in Ukraine was virtually unavailable. It wasn’t until 2016, when modern direct-acting antiviral drugs became available, that Yuriy was able to successfully complete a course of treatment. At the same time, he began to take a deeper interest in the topic of viral hepatitis and to counsel other patients.
At that time, Yuriy worked at the charity organization “100 Percent Life. Kyiv Region,” which provides services to people living with HIV; up to a third of them have HCV co-infection. Information about modern HCV therapy sparked significant interest among clients and colleagues. Seeking answers to their questions motivated Yuriy to develop his expertise so he could provide comprehensive and professional consultations.
In 2017, Yuriy launched the “Hepatitis C Winners Club” initiative to provide comprehensive support to patients with HCV. He later won a competition and received a grant to participate in the 2018/19 STEP UP annual program from EATG, which gave a powerful boost to his professional growth, expanded his knowledge, international experience, and network of contacts in the EECA region (Eastern Europe, Central Asia).
The combination of these factors in 2019 led to the formalization of the “Club” team’s activities and the founding of BCD. Since then, the organization has focused on advocating for the right to access prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of viral hepatitis B, C, and D, as well as on providing comprehensive medical and social support to patients.
Stigma, myths, a lack of professional support and advocacy, the absence of accessible and understandable information about prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and the patient pathway, as well as periodic shortages of medications in state programs and the need for resources to pay for diagnostics—this is far from a complete list of the challenges clients bring to BCD. These needs drive the development of our services and our ongoing communication with stakeholders, donors, and partners.
In 2020, BCD’s activities became more systematic: the team grew, and a volunteer community formed.
As of 2026, BCD comprises 7 active team members and over 15 volunteers and is a voting member of the WHA (World Hepatitis Alliance).
Mechanisms for practical cooperation and joint achievements have been established with:
We are regularly approached by the media to cover the topic of the viral hepatitis epidemic in Ukraine. We enjoy a high level of public trust and a reputation as a reliable partner. Since 2019, over 7,000 people have received comprehensive support from us.
Despite the full-scale invasion of 2022, which posed a serious challenge for the team, BCD not only continued its operations but also expanded its reach to Germany—the country that has taken in the largest number of refugees from Ukraine in need of support.
Our values:
Equality — access to assistance for everyone
Trust — reliability proven by our actions
Respect — human dignity above all
Transparency — open processes and decisions
Professionalism — expertise you can trust
B – Build.
We build relationships with partner organizations of all ownership types, specialists, and people living with viral hepatitis based on the principles of honesty, transparency, and equality.
C – Create.
We create innovative approaches to counseling and treatment for viral hepatitis. We make maximum use of modern communication channels to reduce barriers to access to quality diagnostics and medical services for patients with viral hepatitis.
D – Achieve.
Our goal is to achieve the elimination of viral hepatitis, that is, to reduce the prevalence of viral hepatitis to zero by building effective professional relationships with partners and creating innovative approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of viral hepatitis.
