Tweet
UNICEF (press release), NY
Jan 31 2007
Limited knowledge of HIV risk and prevention among high risk groups
increases AIDS menace in Armenia
© UNICEF Armenia/2007/Emil Sahakyan
>From Left to Right: Dr.Arshak Papoyan, Head of the Epidemiological
Surveillance Department, Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative in
Armenia, Dr.Samvel Grigoryan, Director of the National Centre for
AIDS Prevention, Renate Ehmer, UNAIDS Country Coordinator.
YEREVAN, 30 January -- Adolescents and young people aged 10-24 from
vulnerable and higher risk groups in Armenia have insufficient levels
of knowledge to protect themselves against the spread of HIV
infection, according to a study launched today.
The assessment conducted by a multi-disciplinary team with support
from the National Centre for AIDS Prevention, UNICEF and UNAIDS
provides valuable data on HIV and AIDS-related knowledge levels and
the vulnerability and needs of adolescents and young people from
groups at higher risk such as children who are deprived of parental
care, children in conflict with the law, injecting drug users, other
drug users, commercial sex workers and men who have sex with men.
`This assessment is important because it provides evidence that those
most at risk of contracting the disease have only limited knowledge
of their own vulnerability and what actions they need to take to
reduce their risk of contracting the disease,' UNICEF Representative
Sheldon Yett said in his opening remarks at the launch.
This assessment makes clear that communications campaigns and other
activities targeting those at highest risk of contracting the disease
are essential to check the spread of HIV and AIDS in this country.'
The `Rapid Assessment and Response of HIV/AIDS among Especially
Vulnerable Young People in the Republic of Armenia' found that only
30 per cent of young commercial sex workers, 40 per cent of young
injecting drug users and under 50 per cent of young men who have sex
with other men have a clear understanding of how HIV/AIDS is
transmitted and what they need to do to protect themselves.
The assessment also found that only 12 per cent of adolescents
between the ages of 10-19 living in institutions have sufficient
knowledge on how HIV/AIDS is prevented. A similar level of knowledge
was observed among children in conflict with the law.
The results and recommendations made in the report on Rapid
Assessment were used in the development of the `Country Specific
Strategic Plan on HIV prevention among Especially Vulnerable Young
People and Most At-Risk Adolescents' adopted by the Armenia Country
Coordination Commission on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria Issues (CCM).
The recommendations were also incorporated into the National
Programme on the Response to HIV Epidemic in the Republic of Armenia
for 2007-2011 which has been submitted to the Government of Armenia
for final endorsement.
Among the specific activities recommended in the assessment are the
following:
- Raise awareness of HIV prevention, not only by informing young
people but also by involving them in awareness-raising campaigns and
peer education;
- Ensure that schools address HIV more openly, including in life
skills education;
- Ensure a strong gender focus and targeted policies to reach those
from the most disadvantaged backgrounds;
- Build accessible and youth-friendly health care and advisory
services;
- Foster more inclusive attitudes towards those infected/affected and
those at high risk.
`Although the prevalence of the disease in Armenia remains relatively
low, the lesson from other countries has been that unless early and
effective action is taken to address the spread of the disease among
high risk groups, the disease will spread unchecked into the
mainstream population,' Yett said. `The time to act is now.'
About UNICEF
For 60 years UNICEF has been the world's leader for children, working
on the ground in 156 countries and territories to help children
survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The
world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF
supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation,
quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of
children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded
entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses,
foundations and governments.
For more information please contact:
Sahakyan, Information & Communications APO, UNICEF Armenia: Tel +
(374-10) 523-546/580-174/543-809
Email: [email protected]
Related resources:
UNICEF in Armenia : http://www.unicef.org/armenia/
Unite for Children, Unite against Aids: Eastern Europe and Central
Asia Regional update, June 2006
http://www.unicef.org/ceecis/UFC-brochure-fin al-en.pdf
http://www.unicef.org/ceecis/UFC-brochure-final-r u.pdf
Jan 31 2007
Limited knowledge of HIV risk and prevention among high risk groups
increases AIDS menace in Armenia
© UNICEF Armenia/2007/Emil Sahakyan
>From Left to Right: Dr.Arshak Papoyan, Head of the Epidemiological
Surveillance Department, Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative in
Armenia, Dr.Samvel Grigoryan, Director of the National Centre for
AIDS Prevention, Renate Ehmer, UNAIDS Country Coordinator.
YEREVAN, 30 January -- Adolescents and young people aged 10-24 from
vulnerable and higher risk groups in Armenia have insufficient levels
of knowledge to protect themselves against the spread of HIV
infection, according to a study launched today.
The assessment conducted by a multi-disciplinary team with support
from the National Centre for AIDS Prevention, UNICEF and UNAIDS
provides valuable data on HIV and AIDS-related knowledge levels and
the vulnerability and needs of adolescents and young people from
groups at higher risk such as children who are deprived of parental
care, children in conflict with the law, injecting drug users, other
drug users, commercial sex workers and men who have sex with men.
`This assessment is important because it provides evidence that those
most at risk of contracting the disease have only limited knowledge
of their own vulnerability and what actions they need to take to
reduce their risk of contracting the disease,' UNICEF Representative
Sheldon Yett said in his opening remarks at the launch.
This assessment makes clear that communications campaigns and other
activities targeting those at highest risk of contracting the disease
are essential to check the spread of HIV and AIDS in this country.'
The `Rapid Assessment and Response of HIV/AIDS among Especially
Vulnerable Young People in the Republic of Armenia' found that only
30 per cent of young commercial sex workers, 40 per cent of young
injecting drug users and under 50 per cent of young men who have sex
with other men have a clear understanding of how HIV/AIDS is
transmitted and what they need to do to protect themselves.
The assessment also found that only 12 per cent of adolescents
between the ages of 10-19 living in institutions have sufficient
knowledge on how HIV/AIDS is prevented. A similar level of knowledge
was observed among children in conflict with the law.
The results and recommendations made in the report on Rapid
Assessment were used in the development of the `Country Specific
Strategic Plan on HIV prevention among Especially Vulnerable Young
People and Most At-Risk Adolescents' adopted by the Armenia Country
Coordination Commission on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria Issues (CCM).
The recommendations were also incorporated into the National
Programme on the Response to HIV Epidemic in the Republic of Armenia
for 2007-2011 which has been submitted to the Government of Armenia
for final endorsement.
Among the specific activities recommended in the assessment are the
following:
- Raise awareness of HIV prevention, not only by informing young
people but also by involving them in awareness-raising campaigns and
peer education;
- Ensure that schools address HIV more openly, including in life
skills education;
- Ensure a strong gender focus and targeted policies to reach those
from the most disadvantaged backgrounds;
- Build accessible and youth-friendly health care and advisory
services;
- Foster more inclusive attitudes towards those infected/affected and
those at high risk.
`Although the prevalence of the disease in Armenia remains relatively
low, the lesson from other countries has been that unless early and
effective action is taken to address the spread of the disease among
high risk groups, the disease will spread unchecked into the
mainstream population,' Yett said. `The time to act is now.'
About UNICEF
For 60 years UNICEF has been the world's leader for children, working
on the ground in 156 countries and territories to help children
survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The
world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF
supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation,
quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of
children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded
entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses,
foundations and governments.
For more information please contact:
Sahakyan, Information & Communications APO, UNICEF Armenia: Tel +
(374-10) 523-546/580-174/543-809
Email: [email protected]
Related resources:
UNICEF in Armenia : http://www.unicef.org/armenia/
Unite for Children, Unite against Aids: Eastern Europe and Central
Asia Regional update, June 2006
http://www.unicef.org/ceecis/UFC-brochure-fin al-en.pdf
http://www.unicef.org/ceecis/UFC-brochure-final-r u.pdf