Medical news News TRAININGS, SEMINARS

NGNGO OUTREACHERS CONTINUE DEVELOPING CONSULTATIONS SKILLS

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HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus, is completely controllable if diagnosed in time, while many still associate HIV with AIDS and consider its diagnosis as a death sentence. In fact, AIDS is the final stage of HIV. Regular HIV testing can help to detect and control it in a timely manner.

 

On December 13, 2022, the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID) of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia (NCID) conducted a regular training for the consultants of HIV prevention projects implemented by New Generation Humanitarian NGO (NGNGO). The training is important by the fact that people working directly with the key populations, in this case outreach workers, strengthen their knowledge on HIV and AIDS and acquire relevant professional skills to conduct HIV testing among their own beneficiaries. This in turn provides an opportunity to make the testing more accessible to the groups the organization works with.

 

In the beginning of the training the participants got acquainted with HIV and AIDS situation in Armenia, the vulnerable groups to HIV, importance of HIV prevention, testing and treatment process.

 

After they shared their personal experience with the others. Through role-playing games, outreach workers strengthened their knowledge and learned how to behave in different situations.

 

Then NCID doctor Elena Silka introduced to the participants clinical course of HIV infection, the principles and goals of antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. After the introduction the participants practiced testing, got acquainted with the work of the HIV diagnostic laboratory. Then, together with Dr. Tamara Hovsepyan, the participants discovered the peculiarities of self-testing, learned the correct interpretation of the testing results.

 

The training was concluded by the Head of the STI department of the National Center of Dermatology, sexual health medical expert Emil Mirzoyan who provided the participants with basic knowledge about sexually transmitted infections, so that the trained outreach workers  show more professional approach in the consultations and during the testing process of the  beneficiaries.

 

 

 

At the end of the course the participants received certificates.

 

 

HIV Prevention in Armenia project is implemented by New Generation Humanitarian NGO with financial support of the RA Ministry of Health from the funds of The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in cooperation with the National Center for Infectious Diseases CJSC of the RA Ministry of Health.