Training to Develop Human Resources for AIDS Preve (go back »)

< meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type" /> < meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId" /> < meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Generator" /> < meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Originator" />

Training to Develop Human Resources for AIDS Prevention

Anirudha Alam

HIV/AIDS has been turned into a very grave threat to overall development of human resource in today’s world. The spread of AIDS gaining more speed day to day in every remote corner of the world is terrorizing us as the potential source of constant anxiety, distress and stress.  There is no doubt that it is endangering the whole human race. As per the global statistics on the world epidemic of HIV/AIDS published by UNAIDS/WHO in July 2008, 33 million people were living with HIV/ADS in 2007; whereas during only the period of 2007, 2.7 million people were newly infected with HIV and 2.0 million people died of AIDS related ailment.   

So to confront this endemic with great confidence, we have to have some well-defined plans and programs. These plans and programs will comprise human resource development activities contributing effetely to making people aware of HIV/AIDS and other STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). In thus way, they will be trained up and prepared to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS. Training is an effective means to provide life skill to the vulnerable people that they may be able to have enough courage for leaving bad practices associated with dowry, early marriage, polygamy, sexual violence and gender discrimination in personal, family and social life. In this case, it is necessary to keep in mind that training and human resource development effort should be based on need.  

Human resource development through training is one of the key preconditions in protecting us from HIV/AIDS. At first, the volunteers and staff appointed by the different development and networking organizations may take training on developing and preparing action plan, programs, methods, approaches, policy and strategy to conduct, organize, implement, supervise and monitor any kind of development activities mostly related to HIV/AIDS prevention. They will be oriented on different social issues and consequences which are fueling the vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, ill-health, malnutrition, ignorance and so on. After being trained up, the workforce will be expert in initiating and conducting interpersonal communication (IPA) related to developing the practices, concepts and inclusive techniques of different public health care services. The ultimate result is that their skills will be enhanced in determining priority health risks and problems by assembling and analyzing available STDs and behavioral surveillance data; prioritizing health hazards and issues to be addressed; widening HIV prevention; identifying prevention activity strengths, opportunity, weakness and threats as well as improving local resource management in true sense.

People of third world like Bangladesh are vehemently susceptible to HIV/AIDS. Because, they have not minimal access to knowledge, information and general health care. Their reproductive health literacy is extremely poor. Trained social workers may prepare easy understanding messages and materials for being used in training program about the dangerous aftermaths of HIV/AIDS. According to the findings of the research entitled ‘Role of Human Resource Development in Preventing AIDS’ conducted by Bangladesh Extension Education Services in 2008, 90% of the field workers without having comprehensive and necessary training can not provide their best services in field based HIV prevention activities . The main reason of this undesired performance result is that this kind of services requires sufficient knowledge and skills which are not achievable going through only a lot of printed publications and materials. 

The human resource development activities should be outlined catering to the different stakeholders. Spread of HIV/AIDS involves a wide range of community issues making social life more complicated. In the light of several studies initiated by Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallayan Foundation in the urban areas of Dhaka district, if only one or two social issues are addressed and others are avoided the HIV/AIDS prevention program will fail drastically. So, human resource development should be organized in an integrated way through comprehensive training oriented activities that the stakeholders especially the target groups are able to be aware of HIV/AIDS profundity.

Under training oriented integrated activities, target people may get the scope gradually to have necessary access to latest information, knowledge and know how to get rid of the attack of HIV/AIDS. This activity may incorporate arranging training, orientation, workshop, seminar, open discussion, symposium, colloquium, community convention, courtyard meeting, door to door counseling and so forth.

Unlocking the value of human resources is the core prerequisite in making any development implementation fruitful. Without timely and need based training activity, it can’t be imagined that human resource development is being ensured in its own way. So in the aspect of AIDS prevention, if we want to attain quality and sustainable outcome we have to set the priority for training of all respective stakeholders as a whole.  

Anirudha Alam

Deputy Director (Information & Development Communication) & Trainer

BEES (Bangladesh Extension Education Services)

183, Lane 2, Eastern Road, New DOHS

Mohakhali, Dhaka 1206

Bangladesh.

Website: http://anirudhaalam.onsugar.com/

Phone: +88 01718342876, +88029889732, +88029889733 (office), +88028050514 (res.)

E-mail: anirudhaalam@yahoo.com

Ref: UNAIDS, WHO, UNESCO, World Bank

In Health: Gender & HIV/AIDS