World Vision supports the European HIV testing week

By Ana Chkhaidze & Nune  Hayrapetyan

 “[While] in other countries there is a significant decrease in new [HIV] cases, in the Eastern Europe, the incidents of new HIV cases are rapidly increasing,” said Arshak Papoyan, of the National Centre for AIDS prevention in Armenia.  The reason for the difference, explained Arshak, “is that the HIV-infection is diagnosed in early stages in those countries.” In Georgia and Armenia, on the other hand, many people do not know they are infected until the later stages and after they have (potentially) spread the virus to others. 

To help curb the spread of HIV, World Vision is implementing a the Cross-Border Cooperation for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Impact Mitigation in Southern Caucasus and Russian Federation, funded by the European Union. As part of the project World Vision supported the European HIV testing week November 22-29.

 “The project aimed to make more people aware of their HIV status and reduce late diagnosis by communicating the benefits of HIV testing,” said Anush Sahakyan, project coordinator for the Cross-Border Cooperation for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Impact Mitigation in Southern Caucasus and Russian Federation in Armenia. “HIV testing provides an opportunity to know about the disease in early stages, which is very important for starting the antiretroviral (ARV) treatment in time and preventing the transmission of HIV to partners and future children,” she added.

 “Do tell your neighbor,” is  the slogan of the social media campaign that launch the European HIV testing week that encourage the public to go for  HIV testing.

 “Forum theatre (where a drama is presented and then discussed) and rapid tests for HIV served as an awareness raising initiatives to prevent HIV among general population,” said Tako Kheladze, project coordinator for the Cross-Border Cooperation for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Impact Mitigation in Southern Caucasus and Russian Federation in Georgia.

 For the first time in the region, theater performances were conducted across Armenia and Georgia to raise awareness about the potential consequences of risky behaviours among migrants. Many of the dramas were led by peer educators. More than 1,000 people saw the presentations.

 Addressing the sensitive of HIV/AIDS through the methodology of forum theater encouraged sincere audience participation, as they discussed the characters on stage, their motivations, and their desired shift of behaviour. 

 “Interactive theatre, if used correctly, can be a very powerful tool to trigger behavioural change and deliver information on HIV/AIDS.  I think we were successful in that goal, as we could see how audience engaged in the discussions after the play,” said the Giorgi, 19, project peer educator, and one of the actors of the theatre play from Georgia.

 “The theatre play showed the sad reality in which people who lack the knowledge about HIV and AIDS live. And, how important it is to be informed and protected,” Tamar, a 20-year-old audience member.

 The main problem still lies in the fact that people don’t take HIV test. In Armenia, for example, 50 per cent of HIV cases are diagnosed late and experts estimate that two-thirds of those living with HIV do not know it.

The most  at-risk group includes migrants and their family members Many are afraid of stigma and discrimination people often refuse to take HIV tests, preferring not to know their HIV status.

 During the HIV testing week, World Vision partnered with the local organisations to arrange HIV rapid testing points throughout the capital cities and the regions with the highest numbers of job migrants; 426 people were tested in Armenia.

World Vision is working to reduce HIV infection rates amongst migrants in the South Caucasus region, in conjunction with colleagues from Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Russian Federation and local organizations. Advocacy is an important element of this project – the project is working with all governments to promote a joint response to mobility and HIV/AIDs issues