Participation In The Second Eastern Europe And Central Asia AIDS Conference

From May 03-05, 2008 ART Capacity Building officer participated in the AIDS conference held in Moscow. The conference was very useful considering all the aspects of the epidemic in the framework of the global commitment towards achievement if universal access to HIV prevention, treatment care and support by 2010.
The conference provided insights in HIV/AIDS from different perspectives, and the various events organized in the framework of the conference were very useful, such as Community Dialogue Space — “Besedka”, where the human experience of PLWHA from different perspectives was covered, “Youth Village”, which aimed at promoting youth involvement in addressing HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the satellite programs, such as setting-up of palliative care for HIV/AIDS, events organized by the Catholic Centre of the Mother of God in Moscow, which touched the importance and ways of FBO’s response to the pandemic; Moscow Patriarchate on contributions of different confessions, etc.
Meeting of Diakonisches Werk Partners
On May 04, ART program officer has participated in DW partners’ meeting in Moscow, where DW consultant Ms. Elaizabeth Schuele presented Discussion Paper on Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe and South Asia, and the partners held a discussion on the future steps for elaboration of HIV/AIDS policy for each partner organization and HIV mainstreaming in partners’ project. The meeting concluded with the agreement, that the participants will review the Discussion Paper and will come up with questions and comments till mid June, after which Ms. Schuele will organize a workshop on elaboration of HIV/AIDS policy and HIV mainstreaming for partner organizations.
Study Visit to “Novoye Vremya” NGO in Ekaterinburg
From May 06-10, ART program officer paid a study visit to DW partner organization “Novoye Vremya.”
Meeting with NGO “Civil Rights of the Population of Sverdlovsk Oblast,” May 07, 2008
Considering that the NGO is actively working with labor migrants, it was identified that the Armenian Diaspora of Sverdlovsk Oblast does not have access to HIV programs, and there is a great need for prevention measure among Armenian population, considering wide spread of HIV and drug addiction in the oblast. It was also discussed that a considerable part of Armenian merchants living in Ekaterinburg use the services of CSW, who are PLWHA and drug users and have recently been released from prisons. It was agreed to hold a meeting with the head of Armenian Diaspora in Sverdlovsk Oblast to discuss possible solutions.
Meeting with NGO “Road to Life, May 7, 2008
The NGO runs 4 social-rehabilitation centers with a total number of 50 rehabilitants, for people who have drug and/or alcohol addiction. The rehabilitation lasts for 1 year and post-rehabilitation for 6 months. The rehabilitation process is based on Christian values, assistance in spiritual growth of the rehabilitants, social adjustment of the addicted and assistance in returning to a full-value life within society. It was agreed that ART program officer will pay visits to the centers.
Visits to “Road to Life” NGO rehabilitation centers in Town Revda and village Ledyanka, Sverdlovsk Oblast, May 08, 2008
The visits were of great importance for ART program, as they were a good opportunity to experience how religion can change the lives and psychology of addicted people. The meetings with rehabilitants were very useful, to understand how they manage to change their way of thinking and living, as their major part was so devoted to Christian values that did not realize how they could be addicted in their life before coming to the centers. The pastors of the centers were from religious direction “New Life”. It is worth mentioning that around 30% of the rehabilitants were PLWHA.
Meeting with the head of Armenian Diaspora in Sverdlovsk Oblast Mr. Mikael, May 09, 2008
The representative of the Armenian Diaspora informed that there are several PLWHA among the Armenian Diaspora, who had learned about their status while taking a test to proceed documents for citizenship in Russian Federation. Considering that labor migrants constitute a considerable number of HIV transmission and spread in Armenia, it was agreed to organize prevention campaigns among the Armenian Diaspora in Ekaterinburg, either via collaboration with NGOs in Ekaterinburg or organization of a trip of one of the clergy involved in ART HIV program. The final arrangements for the collaboration will be done in October when the Sunday schools of Armenian Diaspora will launch their activities after summer break.
Meeting with the Director of the Center of “Novoye Vremya” NGO, May 10, 2008
The visit to the center was very informative, and ART programme officer learned about the activities of the center regarding social-psychological-education assistance to children born from HIV positive mothers, PLWHA and their families.
The experience learned from the center of “Novoe Vremya” NGO and the rehabilitation centers will be applied in the activities of the ART. After the visit to Russia, a number of meetings have been conducted with the stakeholders working in HIV field in Armenia, and the experience learned in the study tour has been communicated both to the major stakeholders and the network of clergy. Considering the absence of any community or day centers for PLWHA in Armenia and the immense need for it, currently ART program officer in collaboration with the “Real World, Real People” NGO and Araratyan Pontifical Diocese of Armenian Apostolic Church are elaborating a project on establishment of a day center for PLWHA in Armenia, which will provide spiritual, social, psychological, legal and educational support to PLWHA, their children and family members.