Europe & CIS

Counselling key in fighting HIV

Turkmenistan, 14 April 2008 – Last week saw a three-day training of trainers on helpline services, organized by UNDP and the National AIDS Center within the HIV Prevention project. Eighteen medical specialists received certificates for their participation in the training, in which they learned techniques of telephone counselling . Making helpline services more user-friendly and professional will give the population – and vulnerable groups in particular – better access to quality information and services related to HIV and other STIs.

The participants, from HIV/AIDS centres and narcological and dermato-venerogical dispensaries across the country, admitted that it was the first time they had learned specifics related to hotline services, such as the variety of types of calls, and aggressive or taciturn clients. Having learned various new techniques, they tested them through stimulating group discussions, exchange of views and experiences, role playing and individual exercises. The inspiring environment of the training provoked the participants to discuss and develop basic principles of helpline operation as well as a code of ethics for counsellors, which they will use in their daily work.

The HIV Prevention project supports the Government of Turkmenistan in implementation of the National Programme on HIV/AIDS/STIs prevention 2005-2010, jointly with other UN agencies and civil society groups, to ensure that HIV/AIDS prevention initiatives are implemented in a coordinated and complementary manner. The project is aimed at strengthening the capacity of key government departments of the Ministry of Health of Turkmenistan to coordinate the national response to HIV/AIDS and raise public awareness. It also focuses on work with vulnerable groups to ensure their access to information and support services for HIV/AIDS prevention.

The last day of the training concluded with an evaluation of the knowledge obtained by the participants and of the quality of the training. The qualified specialists now are able to help different groups of people who are in need of psychological or medical counselling. All the participants highlighted the importance and value of the knowledge received through the course in their everyday work and thanked the organizers for such a useful event. In turn, the trainers highlighted the high level of qualification of participants and their motivation to help people in need.
UNDP Turkmenistan: http://www.undptkm.org/
 

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