AFEW: Projects >> Harm Reduction Training Projects (Republic of Moldova)

Harm Reduction Training Projects
Republic of Moldova

PROJECT DURATION: January 2002 through July 2004

SPONSOR(S): Cordaid - Catholic Organisations for Relief and Development (www.cordaid.nl)

PARTNER(S): Seven (7) regional non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working on HIV prevention among injecting drug users (IDUs) and one National Narcological Dispensary for Substitution Therapy; Soros Foundation - Moldova

REGION(S): Republic of Moldova

BACKGROUND:

The Republic of Moldova has suffered from a severe socio-economic crisis since its independence affecting all layers of society. The country is considered the poorest country in Europe.

From 1987 - the year in which the first cases of HIV were registered in the Republic of Moldova - to 1996, the number of officially registered HIV infections increased from 8 to 67 cases. The turning point in the epidemic arrived in 1997 when 404 new cases of HIV were registered. As of 1 July 2003, the total number of officially registered cases of HIV stood at 1 743 while the Federal AIDS Centre estimates that the actual number is closer to 7 400.

According to the Federal AIDS Centre of the Republic of Moldova, injecting drug users (IDUs), the majority of whom are male and between 15 and 30 years old, represent over 80% of all registered HIV cases. As of 1 September 2001, 4 150 persons were officially registered as IDUs at the National Narcological Dispensary. However, according to the World Health Organisation, the actual number of IDUs is approximately ten times that amount.

OVERALL OBJECTIVE:
To support the development and implementation of a comprehensive and sustained country-wide training programme on HIV/AIDS prevention strategies among IDUs in the Republic of Moldova according to international standards and thus to reduce the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Republic of Moldova

PROJECT PURPOSE:
To improve the quality of services provided by harm reduction (HR) projects and/or needle exchange projects (NEPs) working with IDUs in the Republic of Moldova

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:
1. To set up a 30-month training programme for seven (7) HR projects and/or NEPs in Chisinau, Balti, Orhei, Falesti, and Soroca, and for the Information Centre in Chisinau all of which are financed by the Soros Foundation - Moldova
2. To provide consultancy to the HR and NEP projects by visiting each one twice a year
3. To secure the intensive knowledge transfer both to projects and to specialised professional groups on the local level, and to increase the networking capacity of the HR projects in the Republic of Moldova
4. To provide material support through the supply of condoms, needles and syringes to seven (7) HR projects and/or NEPs

TARGET GROUPS:
Governmental and non-governmental specialists working in eight (8) Moldovan HIV prevention and/or HR projects, as well as local journalists and representatives of local health care administrations and HIV/AIDS service providers.

(EXPECTED) RESULTS:
1. Trainings
AFEW will conduct at least two (2) trainings each year for seven (7) Moldovan organisations engaged in HR activities and an Information Centre. Topics covered in the trainings include the following:
· Organisation of outreach work
· Advocacy
· Rapid Situation Assessment
· Public relations and working with the mass media
· Motivational interviewing and pre- and post-HIV test counselling
· Prevention and management of burn out syndrome among HR employees
· Co-dependency

2. Consultancy
AFEW consultants visit each organisation twice each year to provide individualised consultation and training.

3. Advocacy
During site visits, AFEW facilitates advocacy training and activities including round table discussions for local authorities.

4. Distribution of HR Materials
Syringes and condoms are purchased and distributed to seven (7) HR projects and/or NEPs in co-operation with Soros Foundation - Moldova.

5. Sustainability of Projects
As part of the exit strategy and to sustain on-going regional training and technical support, at least one organisation will be selected for further capacity building to facilitate the gradual hand over of activities from AFEW to those organisations.

(EXPECTED) SUCCESSES:
1. Training and Site Visits
· Training workshops will be evaluated positively by trainees and external observers
· Knowledge tests completed during training seminars will reveal an increase in knowledge

2. Distribution of HR Materials
· Syringes and condoms were purchased locally and distributed to seven (7) HR projects and/or NEPs in co-operation with Soros Foundation - Moldova
· Projects are operational and there is a sufficient supply of condoms, needles and syringes
· At least 50% of used needles and syringes will be returned to the NEPs

3. Improvement of Services
A baseline measure of services to IDUs was set at the start of the project cycle for each HR project and/or NEP. This was measured through observations, standard interviews with IDUs and staff, and project data. Expected indicators of success include:
· An increase in the number of clients for each HR project and/or NEP
· A decrease in needle sharing among IDUs receiving services
· An increase in the number of syringes, needles, or condoms distributed
· An increase in the number of IDUs referred to rehabilitation services (where available)
· External evaluation will continue to demonstrate improvement in service delivery

4. Sustainability of Projects
· After one year of the project cycle, at least one organisation will have attained the capacity to take over project activities.

(EXPECTED) MATERIALS PRODUCTION:
· A Harm Reduction Digest - 200 to 300 copies per issue
Published four (4) times a year providing detailed, scientific information on HIV prevention treatment, care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS, the results of conferences, and acting as a catalyst for networking by reporting on developments in other projects in Ukraine and other former Soviet countries, as well as global trends and events

· A total of 10 booklets for clients of HR projects will be produced and distributed. The following six (6) booklets are already in print as of 1 September 2003 - 50 000 copies in total:
- 'Important Information for Needle Exchange Clients' - 6 000 copies
- 'Drugs and Men: There is an exit' - 10 000 copies
- 'Hepatitis' Comic - 15 000 copies
- 'HIV and AIDS' Comic - 15 000 copies
- 'Safety First', by Marsha Rosenbaum - 2 000 copies
- 'Home Care for People Living with HIV/AIDS' - 2 000 copies

RESEARCH COMPLETED AND PLANNED BY AFEW:
In 2001, AFEW undertook a rapid situation assessment (RSA) in five (5) cities in the Republic of Moldova where HR projects have been initiated. The objectives of the RSA were to analyse the HIV and IDU situations in the Republic of Moldova, to determine the need for future HIV prevention services for IDUs, to assess the training needs of project staff, and to gather baseline data for programme monitoring and evaluation on knowledge, attitudes and risk behaviour among IDUs related to HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Yuri Sarankov
Project Co-ordinator
Harm Reduction Training Projects
AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW)
E-mail: yuri_sarankov@afew.org

Office Address:
Esplanadna Str. 28A/2
Kyiv 01023 Ukraine
Tel: +38 044 220 6478, 220 4517
Fax: + 38 044 220 6478
Website: www.afew.org

International Postal Address:
AFEW
P. O. Box 75752
1070 AT Amsterdam
The Netherlands