EATG is a voluntary organisation with more approximately 100 members from over 30 different European countries. Our members are representatives of different communities affected by HIV/AIDS in Europe. Since its foundation, EATG has been at the forefront of the development of the civil society response to the HIV and AIDS epidemic in Europe. Our activities focus on Treatment Literacy and Treatment Advocacy, which are crucial to community/civil society involvement in influence HIV and AIDS treatment andpolicy-making. (www.eatg.org)

We developed this training programme specifically for participants from Eastern Europe, taking into consideration region-specific issues, including fewer resources, greater stigma and weaker understanding and support from their national governments.

We consider that people who understand their treatment are empowered patients – their adherence to treatment is improved as well as their ability to mobilize other members and affected individuals from the civil society, for an increase in access to treatment and prevention, i.e. scaling up of treatment in their countries. EATG believes the community plays an important role in advocating for access to HIV treatment and related information by being empowered to participate and exchange with the main stakeholders and health care professionals (HCP).

 

Training Objectives:

  • Build knowledge and capacity of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) to advocate for best access to treatment and to take empowered decisions about treatment regimens
  • Promote the adherence to HIV treatment and care across Europe by increasing the capacity and treatment literacy of HCP, PLWH, their supporters and consequently, national organisations and health entities they are affiliated with
  • Reduce stigma, discrimination and health inequalities
  • Promote health at national and international level
  • Increase the quality in health care services
  • Support services to PLWH at national level
  • Support advocacy strategies of local and national community based organisations

The training focuses on best practices in HIV care; on dialogue between health care providers and patients; on solidarity with PLWH. The training has been designed to promote a share of experiences between PLWH and HCP giving a special focus to doctor-patient relationship.

 

Participants:

This training is designed for community groups, based service providers, treatment counsellors, health care providers who care for HIV+ patients in Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus. We will select a mixed group of participants that should include medical doctors, nurses andauxiliaries, social workers, counsellors, psychologists and PLWH.

Health care workers who provide clinical care to persons with HIV and related co-infections and working with vulnerable populations (as woman, IDUs, sex workers, etc.) are encouraged to apply, as well as PLWH and HIV local and national advocates with experience on HIV treatment issues; developing information to patients and/or dealing with management of ARVs for the community.

 

Criteria for selection:

  • Participants representing the community of People Living with HIV/AIDS and/or health care providers in Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus
  • Understanding of English and/or Russian
  • Knowledge of HIV/AIDS treatment related issues
  • Affiliation with a local or national organisation; or volunteer/employed by a hospital, treatment center, clinic, youth centre, counselling centre, drug dependency entity
  • Priority will be given to candidates working at local level; working directly with HIV+ IDUs or other vulnerable groups and interested in organising further training activities for their community.

The training will cover the following topics:

History of treatment activism

  • Introduction to combination therapy
  • Treatment guidelines
  • Clinical Trials
  • Human Rights, Stigma and Discrimination
  • Care for IDUs
  • Hepatitis C and Tuberculosis
  • Treatment advocacy
  • By the end of the training you will be able to:
  • Understand implications of different treatment options
  • Share information and skills in your own country
  • Develop strategies to have leverage at local and national level
  • Perform advocacy activities and knowledge dissemination

The training will be interactive and participatory, with discussion groups and training modules taking the form of workshops.

 

Language:

The working language will be Russian and English.

 

Expenses:

All expenses will be covered by the European AIDS Treatment Group.

If you are interested in attending the training, please fill in the
online application form. Deadline for submission of applications is 2nd October 0.00 CET.