ENSURING ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES IN ARMENIAN CEIS: TRAINING WAS HELD FOR PENITENTIARY OFFICERS

On June 20-21, 2024 New Generation Humanitarian NGO (NGNGO) organized an informational, sensitization training for non-medical staff of Criminal Executive Institutions (CEIs) of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia.

 

The goal of the training was to raise the awareness of the CEI representatives and build their capacities in ensuring access to healthcare services, in prevention and treatment of HIV, TB, Hepatites, and other viruses, sensitize them on the work with prisoners living with HIV.

 

The training was launched with opening remarks from Artyom Movsesyan, NGNGO Healthcare Coordinator, who welcomed and thanked the participants for their attendance and highlighted the importance of the training in terms of promoting healthcare services in the CEIs of Armenia.

 

 

After the welcoming remarks, Vardan Arzakanyan, Head of the Department of Epidemiological Control and Consultation of the National Center for Infectious Diseases of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia, presented the topics of HIV and AIDS, Ways of Transmission, Prevention and ARV treatment, Hepatitis B.

 

Next, Emil Mirzoyan, Head of STI Department of the National Center for Burns and Dermatology, introduced the topic of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Prevention and Treatment.

 

 

The second part of the day was dedicated to presentation of the topics Tuberculosis. Routes of Transmission, Symptoms and Prevention Measures, and Hepatitis C, which were presented respectively by Naira Khachatryan, Coordinator of the National Tuberculosis Program, doctor- phthisiotherapist of the National Tuberculosis Center of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia and representatives of Doctors Without Borders NGO (Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF))– medical officer Emilya Jamalyan and Health Promotion Supervisor Shirag Krouzian.

 

 

The 2nd day of the training started with the topic on Drugs, Methadone Maintenance Treamtment presented by Anna Asatryan, Head of the Maintenance Treatment Service of the National Center for Addictions Treatment CJSC of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia. Next defense-lawyer, legal expert Anahit Mkrtchyan presented the topic of The Right to Health: Ensuring Access to Healthcare Services among People Kept in CEIs, and social worker Tatevik Nalbandyan introduced to the participants the topic of Specificities of the Work with Prisoners Living with HIV and Sensitivity.

 

 

The training went on in an atmosphere of active participation and enthusiastic discussions, at the end of the training the participants were awarded with certificates of participation.

 

The training was organized within the framework of the project Promoting Access to Health Services among Key Populations implemented by New Generation Humanitarian NGO with financial support of Gilead Sciences Inc.