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| Regional Workshop for HIV Prevention Outreach among Most at Risk Populations |
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These previous events were designed with the aim of developing the capacities of participants, and qualifying them to reach out to most at risk populations (MARPs) in terms of vulnerability to HIV infection.
In her opening address to the workshop participants, Dr. Khadija Moalla, HIV Practice Leader and UNDP/HARPAS Regional Coordinator, mentioned that this workshop had the purpose of evaluating the projects which have been implemented so far in the area of reaching out to MARPs in various Arab countries. In addition to this, the workshop provided the participants with the opportunity to exchange their field experiences with one another, and review each others’ practices. The workshop was also an opportunity for participants to sit for a final exam that would allow them to obtain accreditation from an internationally recognized institution, which is specialized in this field. Dr. Moalla added that one of the aims of the workshop was promoting networking and collaboration between participants and focal points of the projects that UNDP/HARPAS is running in Arab countries.
a lot of courage
In the beginning, Dr. LaCour praised those who work with MARPs, saying, “I am very grateful to everyone who embarks on working in this tough field. Societies are suffering and human beings are suffering as well, and the solution comes in the form of a human being, an ‘other’, who exhibits compassion, knowledge and skills. It takes a lot of courage for someone to do what you are doing.”
Experiences from the field Sheikh Mohammed Abdel Rahman, Imam and Preacher in the Egyptian Ministry of Religious Affairs (Al-Awqaf), who participated in this workshop, mentioned that he had never had any information on HIV/AIDS before attending these training seminars. He shared that one time a woman had come to him in the mosque and told him that she had HIV/AIDS, and that she had contracted it from her husband, who was an IDU. Sheikh Abdel Rahman said that his reaction was telling her to get out of the mosque! However now, Sheikh Mohammed is putting forth a lot of conscientious efforts in reaching out to MARPs, as he sees this as part of his obligation as a religious leader. He reached out to 15 IDUs and helped 9 of them recover from addiction, whereas the remaining 6 refused to give up addiction; however, he managed to persuade them not to share needles in order not to contract HIV.
Dr. El-Kharrat commented on the presentation of the participants’ projects and experiences, saying that their achievements are measured through adherence to the principles and standards of professional ethics in this field, which comprise the real benefits enjoyed both by the individuals and the society. Among these principles are independence, harm reduction, justice and equality, loyalty and commitment to clients and, finally, the value of change. El-Kharrat added, “Listening to the participants’ experiences has revealed to us the extent to which workers with MARPs adhere to regulations that govern their work.”
Human Rights and Needed Roles
Societal Culture
In this context, Mr. Mohammed Al-Nasser, Jordanian lawyer and human rights activist, spoke about the problem of societal rejection of PLWH, saying, “I have met a lot of PLWH who have lost their lives, so I decided to bring PLWH together and started the first group for them, where we also hold support groups for them. This year we organized several conferences in Jordanian universities, where PLWH could speak about themselves. They gave their testimonies, and talked about their lives after contracting HIV.” And he added, “Through these activities, we tried to address the misconceptions that people have about PLWH, and to emphasize that disease should never be stigmatizing.”
Media Day On the third day of the workshop, UNDP/HARPAS invited several media representatives to view the various field experiences of reaching out to MARPs in Arab countries. They were also introduced to initiatives launched by UNDP/HARPAS to support the efforts of workers in this field, while highlighting the barriers that face their work so that the Arab media could play their assigned role in contributing to removing these barriers.
Communication and Networking
International Accreditation
On the last day, UNDP/HARPAS held a special session with the projects focal points with the purpose of developing a working strategy for the programme in 2010. On another note, the participants took the accreditation examination to obtain an international licence in reaching out to MARPs for HIV/AIDS prevention.
See also: The conclusion of the 2nd HIV and Behavioral Change’s training workshop
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Ahmed Balah - Wadi Al-Natroun, Egypt: The UNDP HIV/AIDS Regional Programme in the Arab States (UNDP/HARPAS) organized a regional workshop entitled: “Advanced Course on Community Mobilization for HIV Prevention among Most at Risk Populations”, from 25 till 29 October 2009 in a drug rehabilitation centre in Wadi Al-Natroun, north-west of Cairo.The advanced course has been attended by more than 70 participants who have previously been involved in one of three past workshops organized by UNDP/HARPAS over the last three years.
Dr. Jean LaCour, CEO NET Institute, Addiction Training and the workshop principal facilitator, addressed in various lectures the means of qualifying workers in the field of reaching out to MARPs and developing their professional competencies, based on a strategy of sharing of information and providing healthcare services to targeted groups of the population e.g. intravenous drug users (IDUs), commercial sex workers (CSWs), men who have sex with men (MSMs), specifically in the locations where they work or live.
On his side, Dr. Ehab El-Kharrat, UNDP/HARPAS Senior Advisor, mentioned that over the last three years, UNDP/HARPAS succeeded in training 88 persons from different Arab countries, from various community sectors, and scientific and professional backgrounds; namely religious leaders, volunteers, representatives of civil society organizations (CSOs), recovered drug addicts, people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH), and many more who work in the area of risky behaviour outreach programmes. Three years ago, UNDP/HARPAS has established a unique training programme on HIV/AIDS and risky behaviours, which has been held on annual basis, over a six-week period in a drug rehabilitation centre. Over the six weeks, the programme offers practical field training on different methods of reaching out to MARPs, including field visits to specialized centres and organizations.
The trainees presented their field projects and the achievements that have taken place, together with the obstacles that they encountered, with the purpose of analyzing them in order to reach suitable solutions, which could be further developed with the training team during the workshop.
On her side, Dr. Khadija Moalla gave a lecture on the societal rights of MARPs e.g. the right to life and to healthcare, the right to work and the right to access information. She emphasized the importance and necessity of protecting these rights in the societies, both by governments and individuals. In her lecture, Dr. Moalla revealed the role played by UNDP/HARPAS in urging Arab parliaments to enact legislations to protect these rights. She also shed the light on some of UNDP/HARPAS publications which have been produced for this purpose.
The workshop comprised a valuable opportunity of networking between several institutions, for the purpose of collaboration and exchange of experiences accumulated in each one represented. The presence of a large number of expert trainers helped the participants to mix and mingle in a way that would allow for the development of joint projects to fight the spread of HIV on the one hand, and to support and promote the rights of PLWH in the Arab region on the other.