World AIDS Day – HelMSIC Greece

Name of the activity: World AIDS Day

Country/NMO: HelMSIC Greece

Program: HIV, AIDS and other STIs

Contact information: contact [email protected] to get in touch with the Activity Coordinator

Type of the activity: Continuous Activity

Category: Education

Focus area: STI education or training for future health-care professions

Sustainable Development Goals addressed: SDG 3 (Good health and Well-Being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), SDG 17 (Partnerships)

General description:

The activity “World AIDS Day” aims to educate on HIV-related topicality and raise awareness of future health professionals and the general public about stigma. The target audience are students of Health Sciences Schools. It includes 2 separate stages. The first stage is a conference that consists of speeches and a Peer Education Training and the second stage is a Street Action, where the participants inform the general public about HIV and AIDS and distribute leaflets, red ribbons and condoms.

Problem statement:

HIV-related stigma and discrimination are still apparent in Greece. General Education and Health Sciences Schools don’t include Sexual Health in their curricula and HIV isn’t approached holistically. As a result, healthcare providers aren’t fully aware of the needs of HIV-patients nor of ways to be supportive towards them. Until the end of 2021, a total of 19265 cases of HIV have been reported in Greece, with 526 of them being new reports within that year. Only 70% of PLHIV in Greece receive ART

Target groups:

• Medical students
• Healthcare Students

Beneficiaries:

• General population

Objectives:

The expected benefits from the implementation of the program are:

For participants of the 1st stage (30/11):

1.1 To be more aware about HIV and AIDS issues and stigma

1.2 To remember on the management of HIV and AIDS issues in the clinical practice

1.3 To remember up-to-date information on new drugs, treatments and developments 

1.4 To adopt a mentality of continuous information about the current situation

1.5 To adopt a Sex Positive approach and to promote safe sexual behavior practices

1.6 To understand their role in HIV and AIDS response and to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration

For the people informed during the Street Actions (01/12):

2.1 To obtain valid information about HIV and AIDS and the importance of preventing transmission of the virus

2.2 To be informed about the benefits of adopting safe sex behavior

2.3 To be informed on prevention methods (diagnostic tests and PREP/PEP)

2.4 To understand the “U=U status”

2.5 To be more aware about HIV and AIDS issues and stigma

Indicators of Success:

The success indicators of the activity are:

1.1 80% of people completing the evaluation form will state that they are more aware about HIV and AIDS issues and stigma

1.2 80% of people completing the evaluation form will state that they remember on the management of HIV and AIDS issues in the clinical practice

1.3 80% of people completing the evaluation form will state that they are aware of the latest developments in antiretroviral treatment and HIV vaccine production

1.4 75% of participants will state that they consider it important to provide thorough and scientifically sound information

2.1 350 people will be informed in each city where the street action will take place

2.2 80% of participants will state in the evaluation form that they are familiar with informing the public on HIV and AIDS-related issues

Methodology:

An one month planning period, when the project proposal was written and the promotion, fundraising and training plans were decided, was followed by a two months management period. There was a 3 people OC in each LC.

In the first stage of the activity the following methods are used:

Lectures by scientifically qualified speakers on the subject:

1. i) HIV basics, international HIV status ii) current affairs and goals for the future iii) managing HIV and AIDS issues in clinical practice

PLHIV to deliver a talk on the experience of people living with HIV in Greece and the role of the health professional

Peer Education Training by Soft Skills Trainers and CSE Facilitators

In the second stage of the activity the following methods are used:

Street action, in collaboration with other agencies, during which medical students will inform the public about HIV and AIDS and distribute information leaflets and red ribbons

Entertainment events in collaboration with university student groups

Plans for evaluation:

The program will be evaluated with defined questionnaires to:

Medical students and Health Sciences students who participated in all stages of the program. The evaluation will be done for each stage, with the aim of improving and maintaining the quality of the program

External Partners of the program

Local Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Officers including HIV & AIDS

Comprehensive Sexuality Education Educators, HelMSIC Soft Skills Trainers who have received similar training

External collaborations:

Positive Voice – Association of PLHIV in Greece | Positive Voice Representatives gave a speech about the stigma and discrimination PLHIV face in Greece, as well as the role of Health Professionals in this matter. Also, they donated 2000 condoms and 2000 leaflets for the Street Actions. 

Infectious disease specialists/Microbiologists/Internists who will deliver the speeches of the 1st stage

Municipalities and University Student Groups for the Street Actions