Approximately 40 senior social workers and health care staff from hospitals from the Yangon region attended a three day workshop from 24-26 September 2014, organised by UNFPA and the Department of Health, to update their counseling techniques on HIV/AIDS related issues.
The overall aim of the workshop was to strengthen the skills set of the participants and provide them with a basic knowledge on the current situation on HIV/AIDS in Myanmar as well as interactive methods on how to improve their counseling practices and how they engage with their patients.
“This is the first time UNFPA supports the National AIDS Strategy on basic training of counselors, and we are already planning on expanding to other parts of Myanmar in 2015,” said Dr. Ni Ni Khaing, UNFPA’s National Programme Officer on HIV/AIDS in Myanmar. She said that the training is part of UNFPA’s capacity development programme to improve the quality of counseling services and strengthen the awareness of the HIV/AIDS preventative measures. “The role of the counselor is to ensure that people feel safe and that their concerns are being heard. In addition, as part of the training they are also informed about Family Planning and reproductive health issues,” said Dr. Ni Ni Khaing.
The workshop also focused on the different aspects of counseling prior to HIV/AIDS testing and post testing for individuals, families or couple’s counseling, including on prevention of mother to child transmission. The participants were given information on how to advise on universal precaution, anti-retro viral therapy (ARV) methods.
U Zaw Min Htun, a 32 year-old Medical Social Worker at Yangon’s General Hospital said he found the workshop “very useful and beneficial “. He further stated that “Prior to the workshop there were many issues which I was not fully aware off.” He now said that he was going to implement his new found skills into his daily counseling sessions. U Zaw Min Htun does not only provide counseling on HIV/AIDS, he also guides on other health related issues such as TB.
HIV/AIDS is still considered a taboo subject in Myanmar and as a result of the stigma attached to the disease many delay or even avoid getting tested or receive treatment until it is too late. The UNFPA through its HIV/AIDS country programme provides counseling on HIV/AIDS for key affected populations and gives advice on stigma-free places to be tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV in confidence, including access to free contraception such as condoms and lubricants, HIV and reproductive health screenings services as well as related services such as those for opportunistic infections, antiretroviral therapy and social support.
