THE URGENCY OF RECOGNIZING THE YOUTH AND FORMER PRISONERS AS KEY POPULATIONS FOR HIV PREVENTION PROGRAMS IN ARMENIA․ MEETING-DISCUSSION

On August 20, 2021 a meeting-discussion on the topic of Urgency of Recognizing the Youth and Former Prisoners as Key Populations for HIV Prevention Programs in Armenia was held by New Generation Humanitarian NGO (NGNGO) within the framework of the project on HIV Prevention Among Vulnerable Populations Not Included In the HIV Response Programs in Armenia.  

Naira Sergeeva, monitoring and evaluation specialist of the Global Fund Program Coordination Team, Ministry of Health,  Roza Babayan, head of Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Narina Sargsyants, deputy director for methodology, science and development of the National Center for Infectious Diseases, representatives of the Youth policy, additional and lifelong education department of  Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia, and other local and international institutions as well as representatives of project target groups took part in the meeting.

The meeting was launched with the opening speech of NGNGO representative Arman Sahakyan.

After the opening speech project coordinator Alina Mirzoyan presented the  project on HIV Prevention Among Vulnerable Populations Not Included In the HIV Response Programs in Armenia, the implemented activities and registered results.

Next, Naira Sergeeva, monitoring and evaluation specialist of the Global Fund Program Coordination Team presented the National Program on the Response to HIV of the Republic of Armenia, the target groups, reasons for their engagement, statistic data.

The meeting was concluded with the presentation of the analysis of the urgency of recognizing the youth and former prisoners as key populations for HIV prevention programs in Armenia. The expert Hovhannes Madoyan presented the aim, results and data od the analysis and the recommendations developed on the basis of these results.

The meeting was summed up with questions and answers relating to the presented topics, discussion of the proposed recommendations and further steps in this direction.

The suggestions voiced at the meeting will also be summed up in the report of the analysis and will be presented to all stakeholder bodies for consideration in the development of 2022-2026 National Program on the Response to HIV of the Republic of Armenia․

New Generation Humanitarian NGO will continue to place all efforts for the increase of the access to HIV Prevention, Testing and Treatment among the youth and former prisoners of Armenia.

 

 

HIV Prevention Among Vulnerable Populations Not Included In the HIV Response Programs in Armenia project is implemented with the financial support of the Emergency Support Fund for Key Populations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.