Meetings With People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) In The Framework Of ART HIV/AIDS Project

Round Table Discussion in Etchmiadzin
On March 31, 2008 ART organized a round table discussion in the meeting hall of Mother See in Etchmiadzin with participation of priests who are representatives of ART network of priests, which is functioning in all the regions of Armenia and is comprised from clergy who have been regularly taking part in the seminars organized by ART on HIV/AIDS and Trafficking, and members of “Real World, Real People” NGO, which is a partner organization of ART in the framework of HIV/AIDS projects.
It is worth mentioning that ART is the only organization in Armenia, which works with PLWHA, and moreover all over the country with the help of the network of clergy who have built their capacities to deal both with HIV/AIDS and Trafficking. The goal of the discussion was to introduce clergy to PLWHA and discuss areas for collaboration in the framework of ART HIV/AIDS project.
The president of the NGO mentioned that presently there are only three functioning self-help groups in Armenia, two in Yerevan, which is being coordinated by their NGO, and one in Vanadzor, where they have a local representative. It was prioritized that PLWH in the regions of Armenia face a number of challenges, including stigma and discrimination and absence of any one whom they can apply and trust their status and the problems they face, as well as absence of coordination and available space for the meeting of self-help groups. In this context, the role of clergy was highly prioritized, as they serve in all the regions of the country can best meet the needs of PLWHA.
The clergy expressed willingness to act as focal points for coordination of formation of self-help groups in the regions of Armenia; to provide spiritual and psychological assistance by participation in the existing self-help groups in Yerevan, as well as to work with PLWHA in the villages on individual basis.
PLWHA also informed they would like clergy to attend homes of PLWHA in their areas and to provide palliative care, which has already become an important issue. It was decided that the clergy will do joint prevention campaigns with PLWHA, which will have a stronger voice among youth and community members, especially among migrant population; ART in collaboration with “Real World, Real People” NGO will organize meeting of clergy and PLWHA in all the regions of Armenia; clergy will involve PLWHA in the church life; clergy in their areas of service will try to form a network of PLWHA to initiate activities of self-help groups in the rural areas, as well as provide space for the meetings.
Considering the trust and respect of the population towards clergy, as well as the factor that clergy can be the only ones to keep the secret of the status, PLWHA suggested they would welcome clergy to participate in the existing self-help groups and work towards formation of new ones.
Meeting with PLWHA and Clergy in Vanadzor
On April 15, ART organized a meeting of PLWHA and clergy in Vanadzor city, which has the third highest prevalence of HIV registered cases in Armenia. ART program officer and President of “Real World, Real People” NGO had a meeting with the Primate of Gugark Diocese, who gave his blessing to the work of two priests of the diocese with PLWHA.
The meeting took place in the church, as by the blessing of the Primate, a room in a church was provided for meetings and self-help groups. That was the first experience of Armenian clergy working with PLWHA, and the findings were tremendous.
One of the participants confessed he wanted to approach one of the priests for around 12 times, but changed his mind when approached the church, as was not sure what would be the reaction of the priest on his story. The meeting participants identified they had a number of problems which would like to discuss with clergy and moreover, to get involved in the church life. They expressed willingness to organize a joint meeting of the clergy and their children, who suffer a lot knowing that their parents are HIV positive. The meeting passed in a very warm atmosphere, and the participants expressed their main problems and difficulties as well as the stories of their lives. They asked the priests to visit the home of an HIV positive woman, whose husband has recently died, and the visit of the priest would have a positive impact on the behavior of both the relatives and neighbors of the woman, who do not want to have any relations with her, only because her family members are HIV positive.
The participants gave high importance to the involvement of the clergy in palliative care; meetings with PLWHA, who refuse to receive treatment; working with the relatives and families of the PLWH to combat stigma; participating in the self-help groups to provide psychological and spiritual support and to implement joint prevention campaigns.
Such meetings are planned to be held regularly in all the regions of RA, in collaboration with “Real World, Real People” NGO.
Meeting with PLWHA and Clergy in Gyumri
On April 23, ART organized a meeting of PLWHA and clergy in Gyumri city, which has the second highest prevalence of HIV registered cases in Armenia . ART program officer and President of “Real World, Real People” NGO had a meeting with the Primate of Shirak Diocese, who suggested his support and assistance in the activities with PLWHA, and provided a room in the church for the meeting and self-help groups. The meeting took place in the Primacy, where 8 PLWHA came and one was with his 5 y.o son. All the participants were men, except for 1 woman, who had recently divorced, has 5 months’ baby and needs serious psychological assistance. The meeting was very touchy, as all the PLWHA had the same needs: people who would listen to them and advice how to continue living; people who would not discriminate and blame them, but instead will prove that the life is not over, and they can continue living as they used to.
The participants expressed a number of issues that the priests can be the only ones to help them, considering the trust and respect they deserve among the population. One of requests, which was underscored for many times, is that clergy would visit the relatives and parents of the PLWHA, who do not know about their status, and prepare them to learn the news. This was mentioned to be a big problem for the participants, as all of them were hiding the truth from their families, which makes their lies very difficult.
Considering that there is no self-help group in Gyumri, it was agreed that one of the participants would become the focal point to coordinate all the PLWHA in Shirak region to form a group, while the clergy will coordinate the meetings.. They were very happy to hear that they would have a room in the church for gatherings, as were very much caring about secret of their status, while church is the most confidential place for gatherings. Such meeting among PLWHA and clergy will be regularly organized by ART in all the regions of Armenia, as obviously clergy can provide a unique support to PLWHA, especially in the regions of the country.
The above-mentioned meetings are the first trials of collaboration of clergy and PLWHA in Armenia, and they show the great importance and need for such actions. Considering that Churches have high trust among the population, and since HIV is a sensitive issue and the revealing of a positive status may lead to social isolation, priests are in major cases the only ones that PLWHA want to open up to and ask for help.