Stigma and discrimination are one of the factors in the spread of HIV / AIDS

On August 6, the International NGO "International Institute of HIV / AIDS and Tuberculosis" with the assistance of the Department of Civil-Military Cooperation of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for servicemen of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Mariupol held a training on "HIV/AIDS, the rights and responsibilities of people living with HIV, stigma and discrimination".

The main objectives of such trainings remain unchanged - to raise the level of awareness of servicemen on HIV / AIDS and reduce the risk of spreading the disease among the personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Experts who have been working for many years in the field of combating the spread of HIV / AIDS in Ukraine, including Natalia Kozhan, a lecturer at the PL Shupik National University of Health of Ukraine, and Serhiy Dmytriyev, a military chaplain, were involved in the training.

The issues of the HIV / AIDS epidemic situation in Ukraine and among servicemen were considered during the classes; ways of HIV / AIDS transmission; rights and responsibilities of HIV-infected people; stigma and discrimination, as well as their prevention; spiritual support for HIV-infected servicemen and more.

For reference: the event was implemented within the PEPFAR project "HIV / AIDS Prevention in the Armed Forces of Ukraine: testing and counseling, reducing the risk of infection on the battlefield."