Organisation overview

Center on Mental Health and HIV/AIDS (Центр по Психическому здоровью и ВИЧ/СПИД) - Общественная организация

Manizha Haitova

Street N. Makhsum 70 apt. 24

734064 Dushanbe

Tajikistan

+992 91 930 12 02

+992 37 24 74 53

English, Russian

Non governmental

9-20

9-20

Work and HIV, Care and support, Co-infections, Gender, Human rights, Management, Migration, Positive prevention, Prevention, Reproductive health, Research, Resource mobilisation, Sexual education, Social issues, Testing and counselling, Treatment, Advocacy

Local, National, Regional - Central Asia

General public, Health care professionals, Injecting drug users (IDUs), Migrants, NGOs, People living with HIV (PLHIV), Women, Youth

Local, National, Regional, European, Global

International donors

Center is developing the innovative projects against Stigma and Discrimination in Tajikistan. We need to cooperate with the new partners for realization these projects. Center needs: consultants, technical and financial support. Center open for sharing our research with the partners for achieving the global goal – decreasing epidemic of HIV.

Summary of the Organization’s recent projects and regional-level experience Our Projects 1. Project: "Mental Health and HIV/AIDS in countries of Southeast Europe, the Caucasus and central Asia" (2006-2009). Donor: Global Initiative on Psychiatry, the Netherlands. Over 200 specialists from NGOs, health care institutions, PLHIV and IDU community representatives were trained in issues of mental health and HIV/AIDS n Tajikistan. The project conducted 4 surveys on mental health and HIV/AIDS in Tajikistan. Over 47 out of the 200 training participants became change agents and started conducting trainings using the Center's modules and materials. The project also established the first multidisciplinary team for providing care and support to PLHIV that is actively functioning now and consists of 18 specialists: medical doctors, psychologists, and lawyers who provide PLHIV care and support. Under the Project, the Center obtained a Medical License that granted it the right to provide medical care to the population. That was the first medical license granted to an NGO in Tajikistan. 2. Project: "Improving quality of life for PLHIV" (2007-2008). Donor: UNICEF. The project included working with street children and children who had conflicts with the law. A series of seminars and trainings were conducted for children from boarding schools, also for NGO staff to enhance their capacity of working in HIV/AIDS prevention. Medical examinations of children from two boarding schools in Dushanbe that also included HIV testing covered 100 children. In 2007, the Center provided an HIV/AIDS hotline (so-called "Trust Phone") that is successfully functioning today and is the only HIV/AIDS hotline in Dushanbe. 3. Project: "ISLAM against Stigma and Discrimination of PLHIV" (2008 - 2009). Donor: Act CA. Two five-day trainings were conducted for 30 clergy leaders in Dushanbe and Kulyab. The clergy leaders picked up the baton from the Center's Change Agents and started conducting awareness sessions for HIV prevention in the cities' mosques, in madrasahs for women and men from the mosque community and madrasahs students. The first Training Module on HIV/AIDS in Tajikistan was created for clergy leaders. A 20-minute documentary «The Fate» was made about the life of a PLHIV and the role of religious leaders in HIV/AIDS prevention in the country. The project developed a specialized 5-day training module for clergy leaders, including many issues of HIV/AIDS, stigma and discrimination, prevention, PLHIV care and support. The project initiate active work of Tajik clergy leaders for HIV prevention among the country's population. Over 40 awareness sessions were conducted by the clergy leaders themselves in mosques of Dushanbe and Kulyab that were attended by about 6000 people. 4. Project: Mass Media Against Stigma and Discrimination of PLHIV' (2008-2009). Donor: US Embassy in Tajikistan. Under the project, 28 journalists have been trained in HIV/AIDS prevention, adequate and ethical HIV/AIDS reporting in mass media, preparation of quality journalist materials on the topic. Project participants, journalists from all regions of Tajikistan who were included in the project on a competitive basis, created radio and TV clips that were broadcast for 3 months by the Tajik television TVT and Radio Tajikistan. An article was also written for The Nigoh newspaper. A public survey was conducted to get feedback about the quality of the clips created by the project. The project also organized a Journalist Forum for representatives of mass media in Tajikistan. 5. Project: "Care and Support to PLHIV" (2008-2009). Donor: GFATM. This project is now implemented in Dushanbe, Rudaki, Gussar and Vahdat. A series of trainings have been conducted on HIV/AIDS prevention and ART adherence among PLHIV. The Center established the first Balint peer support group for specialists working in AIDS service organizations. The group's purpose is to prevent emotional burnout of the staff. A PLHIV initiative group was established and work started for generating income for PLHIV: a sewing workshop was established and staffed with PLHIV women. 6. Project "An integrated approach for prevention HIV/AIDS among the population of the Republic of Tajikistan " Donor - Act CA. (2009-2010). The project conducted training among health workers, students, religious leaders and workers. Questioning the target groups of the project was conducted to identify the needs and requirements of target groups, and pre design study of knowledge attitude and behavior of program participants. Special sessions are designed for intensive, interactive learning, to improve knowledge on HIV / AIDS, drug addiction. Sessions conducted among health workers in health centers in Dushanbe and in high school. Developed a specialized training course provides an opportunity for an extremely short time increase the knowledge of the task force and influence to change attitudes and behavior in the context of HIV / AIDS. Trainings conducted for religious leaders, as a continuation of activities initiated in 2008, an integrated project with a broad coverage of different groups on the same project area. The Center conducts daily sessions of peer support groups of PLHIV and IDUs. The groups consist of 6 to 20 people. Center provides regular services for more than 500 clients, including over 300 PLHIV, 180 IDUs, and 100 people who are co-dependent or have other life problems. The clients regularly attend the Center's events and get services. The project provides psychological, social assistance, medical treatment, drugs and support to PLHIV. The Center also advocates for PLHIV rights. Peer support group sessions are conducted in different towns and regions of Tajikistan. Groups for PLHIV and IDUs are at the Center. These groups s have been begun under the previous projects and have stability at the moment. The teams carry out various exercises, including the occupation of ART therapy. Group visits clients with Dushanbe, Vahdat, Hissar, Tursunzade, Rudaki. The Center is preparing a radio transmission with the participation of religious leaders and doctors at Radio Tajikistan. Coverage of the target audience of listeners 99% of Tajikistan. These broadcasts are designed to highlight issues of HIV and AIDS among the general population, especially in inaccessible areas of the republic. 7. Project "Preventing the spread of HIV among the Tajik and Kyrgyz labor migrants and their families" Donor - Act CA / DCA / ICCO. (2009-2010). The Center serves as a resource NPO under this project, and deal with increasing capacity of local NGOs on HIV / AIDS. Our center has developed and maintains a database of NGOs in Tajikistan, which deal with issues of migration and HIV / AIDS. Training modules developed and conducted training for NGO staff, representatives of local authorities, health professionals and religious leaders of the Khatlon region. Conduct awareness support to NGOs involved in this project, which will work with the public. An electronic library of books and materials on aspects of prevention, HIV / AIDS treatment and care and support. National Round Table held on aspects of migration and HIV / AIDS, the main actors of which were national and regional NGOs. 8. Project "SAVE" - 2010 Donor - Act CA 9. Project "Tajikistan Network of Women with HIV" - Donor AFEW (2010-2011) By support of our NGO were created three new civil organizations in this project. All of these organizations – are NGO of people living with HIV. The name of new NGOs are: "Trust +" - in Dushanbe, "Dream +" in the Khatlon and the Tajikistan Network of Women living with HIV. Tajikistan Network of Women with HIV (TNW+) is the first and only National network of women with HIV which brings together women from many areas of our country and now the number of registered members of the network are 48 women living with HIV on this day. TNW+ provide support more than 150 women regularly. Leaders of TNW+ are active in hospitals, NGOs and other events in Tajikistan. Every day they provide social, psychological help and support. Organize two support groups and two information sessions for women with HIV at a variety of topics monthly. They are actively involved in international cooperation and networking. Tajikistan Network of Women with HIV is a member of WeСARE+ and GCWA. The main goal of the TNW+ is “Increase the level of life of women with HIV and their children in Tajikistan ”. the only organization of women living with HIV, whose leaders have an open status and try to actively participate in policy-making in the field of HIV / AIDS at national and international level. tnwhiv@mhaids.tajnet.tj