ARMENIA IN THE MIDST OF CHALLENGES

Every year, on 1 December, the world commemorates World AIDS Day. The day was proclaimed in 1988 to raise the awareness about AIDS epidemics that originated through the spreading of HIV infection.  

Thus, since 1988, on the first day of winter the international community uses the opportunity to draw attention to the issue, to unite efforts in the fight against HIV and AIDS, and express support to the people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS.

Each year on this day New Generation Humanitarian NGO organizes different events to mark the day, to show support to people living with and affected by HIV, to highlight the importance of HIV and AIDS prevention, to draw the attention of the international community, state bodies and the general society on the issues and problems in the field, the implemented actions, registered progress and still existing gaps.

 Among this year’s events dedicated to World AIDS Day 2021, New Generation Humanitarian NGO organized a meeting-discussion under the title Armenia in the Midst of Challenges.

Highly valuing the importance of cooperation among state bodies, diplomatic missions, international and local organizations in the effective fight against HIV and AIDS in Armenia, the organization united all stakeholder bodies around a table to discuss the HIV and AIDS situation in Armenia, the progress and achievements in the field, still existing problems, steps and interventions undertaken on the response to HIV, implemented actions and programs aimed at HIV Prevention, necessary changes and future steps.

H.E.M. Anne Louyot, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Armenia; H.E.M. Nico Schermers, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Armenia; H.E.M. Patrik Svensson, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sweden to the Republic of Armenia; Maria Papamichail,Political Officer and Human Rights Focal Point at the EU Delegation to Armenia; Cristina Hansell, Political Officer, U.S. Embassy Yerevan; Laura Fracassa, Deputy Head of Mission of the Republic of Argentina in Armenia; representatives of the Ministry of Health; Suren Nazinyan, Director of the National Center for Addictions Treatment of the Ministry of Health of Armenia, representatives of the Ministry of Health, Global Fund Coordination Team, National Center for Infectious Diseases, international and local organizations, medical institutions and other stakeholder bodies attended the meeting.

 

The meeting was launched with the premiere screening of World AIDS Day 2021 video.

 Next, Sergey Gabrielyan, president of New Generation Humanitarian NGO  made the opening speech welcoming and thanking all the guests for participation, highlighting the importance of ensuring the sustainability of HIV and AIDS prevention programs in the country, particularly in the midst of challenges triggered by COVID-19 pandemic and war situation in Armenia. In his speech, Sergey Gabrielyan also stressed the importance of collaboration of diplomatic missions, state, international and non-governmental institutions in the fulfilment of the great responsibility assumed by Armenia to fight against HIV and AIDS, by putting the protection of human rights, particularly the realization of the right to health of the most vulnerable groups at the core of this cooperation.

Then, H.E.M. Anne Louyot, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Armenia; H.E.M. Nico Schermers, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Armenia; H.E.Mr. Patrik Svensson, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sweden to the Republic of Armenia; Maria Papamichail, Political Officer and Human Rights Focal Point at the EU Delegation to Armenia; Cristina Hansell, Political Officer of U.S. Embassy Yerevan; Laura Fracassa, Deputy Head of Mission of the Republic of Argentina in Armenia; Hasmik Harutyunyan, Global Fund Program Coordination Team Manager of Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia made welcoming speeches again highlighting the importance of cooperation of state, international and civil society organizations and their joint efforts in fighting inequalities for effective response to HIV and AIDS, and other pandemics.

After the welcoming remarks, Naira Sergeeva, the Global Fund Program Coordination Team Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist presented HIV National Strategic Plan 2022-2026. Cooperation of State and Field NGOs in the National Program.

Naira Sergeeva’s speech was proceeded by Marietta Mirzoyan, Head of Statistics and Monitoring Department of the National Center for Infectious Diseases, who presented the HIV and AIDS situation in Armenia.

Next, Artyom Movsesyan, Healthcare Coordinator of New Generation Humanitarian NGO, introduced the NGO’s HIV prevention programs among the vulnerable groups.  

Suren Nazinyan, Director of the National Center for Addictions Treatment and Zhenya Mayilyan, President of Real World Real People spoke about the HIV prevention activities among people who inject drugs. Zhenya Mayilyan also presented the services provided to people living with HIV.

At the end of the meeting, Nare Hovhannisyan, President of Center for Legal Initiatives NGO, spoke about the access to HIV-related services in criminal executive institutions in Armenia.

 Sergey Gabrielyan, NGNGO president concluded the meeting thanking the guests for participation and active discussions once more, and particularly highlighting the importance of united efforts of diplomatic missions, state bodies, international and local organizations, medical institutions and all other stakeholders in the effective fight against HIV and AIDS.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The meeting-discussion was organized within the framework of the Right to Health of Community project implemented with the financial support of Gilead Sciences Inc.