A large-scale regional project on HIV prevention among adolescents and young people opened today in the Minsk region, BelTA has learned. A series of seminars on the formation of knowledge and skills of specialists of secondary specialized institutions on HIV counseling and testing for adolescents and youth at risk takes place on the basis of the Minsk Regional Institute for Educational Development. Twenty-five specialists came to the two-day classes: they are psychology teachers and social educators of all the colleges in the Minsk region. The opening was attended by representatives of the main partners and organizers of the project - the Ministry of Education, the Belarusian Association of UNESCO Clubs, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Minsk Regional Executive Committee. As noted by the chairman of the Belarusian Association of UNESCO Clubs Dmitry Subtselny, the need to organize such a project has long been ripe. "Unfortunately, HIV infection continues to spread, sexual transmission of the disease takes the first place." Vulnerable category of the population are students of secondary vocational schools, therefore it was decided to train specialists of these educational institutions, to teach them the necessary skills for working with young people, "he said. / P> In particular, participants in the seminar will be taught the skills of counseling and testing teenagers with the help of rapid tests. "The project is long-term: the task is to train specialists who will further work on the basis of their institutions, they will inform young people about the HIV problem, offer an anonymously painless rapid HIV test, if the disease is identified, workers will redirect the children to healthcare institutions, or centers that are friendly to teenagers, where they will be provided with qualified assistance, "Dmitry Subtselny explained. Based on the results of the seminars, participants will receive a set of methodological materials and rapid tests. Such classes will be organized in every region of Belarus. It is expected that approximately 130 workers from all regions will acquire the necessary knowledge. The next training will be held by the teachers of the Gomel region on September 13-14.
Written by belta.by
