Russian Red Cross (Irkursk regional branch) | “Prophylaxis of the “pediatric HIV”, strengthening measures on health protection for women and children, affected by HIV/AIDS and providing them medical, social and psychological assistance at the place of residence, assistance on integration of children

“Prophylaxis of the “pediatric HIV”, strengthening measures on health protection for women and children, affected by HIV/AIDS and providing them medical, social and psychological assistance at the place of residence, assistance on integration of children

Irkutsk regional branch of the Russian Red Cross together with the United Nations Children`s Fund (UNICEF) has been implementing a project aimed at prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, at strengthening measures to save women and children`s health – those affected by HIV/AIDS, and at providing them with medical, social and psychological help at local clinics, as well as cooperation on the issue of integration children into the sphere of education.

The project started on March 1, 2008 – in four towns of Irkutsk region – Angarsk, Usolye-Sibirskoye, Cheremkhovo, Sayansk.

Key partners in the project – Ministry of Social Protection of Irkutsk region, Ministry of Healthcare of Irkutsk region, Ministry of Education of Irkutsk region, Irkutsk regional AIDS Center.

Key accomplishments:
1. Mechanism of interdepartmental cooperation was developed to provide medico-social support to children and families in socially-dangerous situation, including HIV-positive women and children born to them. The mechanism of cooperation is supervised by the special order approved by the Ministry of Healthcare and Ministry of Social Protection of Irkutsk region.
2. Round tables were conducted - “Raising quality of complex medico-social-psychological support for HIV-positive pregnant women, new mothers and children”; “Integration of children affected by HIV/AIDS into the educational sphere and providing them with opportunities of early development at an early age” - with participating parties being authorities of regional Departments of Education in Irkutsk, Angarsk, Cheremkhovo, Usolye-Sibirskoye, Sayansk.
3. 3-day training on “Case-management” was conducted. There were 23 participants – specialists from social and healthcare establishments from four towns of Irkutsk region. They improved their knowledge on main principles of medico-social-psychological assistance to people affected by HIV and on providing counseling to them.
4. 5-day training for trainers was conducted to train specialists from educational establishments from those towns which had been chosen by the Project (Irkutsk, Angarsk, Cheremkhovo, Usolye-Sibirskoye, Sayansk). Representatives from each town were: teachers at local high schools, correctional schools, boarding schools. The number of people trained – 22.
5. In May and September of 2008 informational 2-day trainings were conducted for specialists of educational establishments/. The total number of trainings conducted – 16 in 4 towns (Angarsk – 4 trainings, Cheremkhovo-4, Usolye-Sibirskoye-4, Sayansk-4).
6. Five playground rooms for children were dedicated in the target towns of the region.