September 16, 2007

Aids Alliance Nepal (AAN) conducted a HIV/AIDS Awareness training Programme in the outskirt of Kathmandu Valley- Thankot on September 16, 2007. Trainees were the 25 members of Nari Jagaran Samuha (Women Awakening Group). They included married, unmarried and a few secondary school girls. Some came to attend the programme carrying their babies. The training was divided into two parts: the first half was related to HIV/AIDS Awareness and the second was Drugs and its Effects. The former topic was facilitated by Bam Bahadur Rawal, a social activist and the later was by Ishwor Shakya, an ex-drug user and now an activist.

Many of them expressed ignorance about HIV/AIDS before a pre-training test. However, in the end of the training they gave us a good feedback.

They-

• gave words to convey the message of the training to their neighbors and make them participants in the forthcoming such type of trainings
• got information about the modes of transmission of the disease and its preventions;
• understood the disease is a social phenomena. HIV only doesn't cause AIDS.It has now treatment and life can be prolonged;
• will love, take care and support the sufferers (the infected and affected);
• will contact the health centres earlier in case the symptoms appear in the individualsin their neighborhood;
• will help keeping the family members in morally high behavior and in drug free situations, the strongest weapon to prevent the disease;
• will try their best to avoid stigma and discrimination; and
• will respect the sensitivities and rights of the sufferers/victims/drug users.