[afro-nets] 5 Days HIV/AIDS Counselling Workshop in Owerri Imo State

[Stella Iwuagwu <crhaids@yahoo.com>]

5 Days HIV/AIDS Counselling Workshop in Owerri Imo State
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17th - 21st May, 2004
Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

The Center for the Right to Health (CRH), a non-governmental or-
ganization dedicated to research, training and advocacy for the
full realization of the right to health in Nigeria, especially
for vulnerable groups, such as People Living With HIV/AIDS will
from Monday, 17th May to Friday 21st May 2004 hold a five-day
HIV Counselling workshop at the Cachez Suites, Owerri, Imo State
for Health care workers and Persons Living with HIV/AIDS. The
twenty-five participants are drawn from the Federal Medical Cen-
tre, Owerri, General Hospitals in Owerri, Okigwe, Umuguma and
the Association for Positive Care.

The Center recognizes Voluntary Counselling and Testing as an
important starting point for access to prevention and care. Vol-
untary Counselling and Testing is one of the strategies designed
by programme planners to combat the menace of HIV/AIDS pandemic.
It is a package aimed at not only reducing the incidence and
prevalence of HIV in a given population but also to facilitate
access to treatment, clinical management, care and support as
well as reduction in stigma and discrimination. It comprises pre
and post-tests counselling which enables the counselee give in-
formed consent to do a HIV test, having fully understood what
the test involves and what the test may mean. On the other hand,
it provides education for positive reproductive health living
and early referrals for care, legal and psychosocial support.

Amongst other intervention strategies, Center for the Right to
Health, organizes HIV counselling to equip health care workers
and Persons living with HIV/AIDS with up to date counselling
techniques and knowledge to properly address the HIV/AIDS epi-
demic.

We have successfully held counselling workshops for Health care
workers, Persons Living with HIV/AIDS and Youths in Abuja, Lagos
and Nassarwa States.


Bede Eziefule
Senior Programme Officer
mailto:crhaids@yahoo.com