Suggestions to Improve Prevention
by Carlos Gallagher
Carlos Gallagher talking
with instructors program
To improve HIV and Aids prevention interventions, it is crucial to focus on both the increasing demand for workshops, training programs and services and improving the quality of these services. It is counterproductive to increase the demand for services when those who offer the services are not prepared technically or emotionally, nor possess the necessary infrastructure and staff to respond to the priority population with the new focuses of prevention and holistic health.
Thus there is a need that Trainers or Instructors themselves participate in ongoing training and that ongoing supervision is provided to them. Services need to be designed and implemented within a Human Rights framework, paying special attention to aspects of inclusion, non discrimination, quality control and a caring atmosphere.
Pervasive stigma has surrounded HIV and Aids since the beginning of the epidemic and is still present in different levels of the general population, organizations and the Health Service. Reinforced by systemic discrimination, this continues to undermine the efforts of individuals and communities alike to fully engage in HIV and Aids prevention, care and support. This inhibits the access of the most vulnerable population groups to the necessary prevention courses and services and also contributes to making prevention interventions more complicated.
The activities and services directed at PLHIV need to create safe spaces within society and service institutions where the rights of infected and affected individuals are given consideration and respect. Through their active involvement and innovative interventions, PLHIV demonstrate that the impact of stigma and discrimination can be reduced through increased awareness, positive dialogue and community mobilization.
Partnerships between non-governmental and governmental institutions that build on the extensive experience of both parties provide a successful strategy for interventions with vulnerable and bridge population groups. The involvement of the private sector and civil society groups in these partnerships also increases the coverage of HIV prevention activities, and facilitates high levels of acceptability in terms of behavioral change, health promotion, STI/HIV prevention and AIDS care and treatment adherence.