Abstract Book Vol. 2 [International Conference on AIDS (14th: 2002: Barcelona, Spain)]

686 Abstracts ThPeG8418-ThPeG8422

XIV International AIDS Conference

ThPeG841 8 Advocacy of AIDS issues in media
I. Mittiene, S. Chaplinskas, L. Stoniene. Lithuanian AIDS Centre, Nugaletoju
14D, Lietuvos AIDS centras, Vilnius, Lithuania
Issues: Lithuanian media pays more attention to the issues of AIDS and related
problems as the Lithuanian AIDS Centre (LAC) favors media's vigilance regarding major points of its interest: chase of sensations, society's wish to be informed,
and clear position of government. Concrete actions of leading institutions and society's need for knowledge stimulate journalists to look deeper into AIDS issues.
Description: Journalists in Lithuania are not pampered by various awards, therefore the journalist competition organized since 1998 has become prestigious. It
is aimed at giving incentive to journalists to gain expertise and write more on the
issues of HIV/AIDS, STI and harm of drug use. Winners are declared in press, radio, TV categories. Distinction is made between regional and national mass communication. The winners of the competition are granted a diploma signed by the
authorities of UNDP, Ministries of Health, Social Protection and Labor, Education
and Science, Internal Affairs, National Journalist Union and Journalist Institute,
Vilnius Municipality, World Bank and LAC. Diploma is not only the indication of
professionalism but also the reflection of long-term collaboration and common
policy in the sphere of AIDS prevention.
Lessons learned: Media is highly capable to inform society on HIV/means of
protection and harm of drug use in a comprehensible way. A decade's experience
has proved that it is worth exploiting mass media not only because it is able to
inform society but also influence public opinion. However, it must be remembered
that media is only one of many means of communication and it is hardly controllable. Seeking to use media as an informational means, it is necessary to foresee
the goals and consider if media could help to achieve them.
Presenting author: Irma Mittiene, Nugaletoju 14D, Lietuvos AIDS centras, Vilnius, Lithuania, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeG8419 Expereicne of HIV/AIDS awareness campaign
among distance learners
G. Thomas. India Gandhi National Open University, S.O.C.E, I.G.N.O.U, New
Delhi- 110068, India
The Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi Established in 1985 has
significantly achieved the objectives for which it was set up: taking higher education to doorsteps of the students; providing high quality courses to students
who seek it, irrespective of age, region and formal qualification; and emphasizing
relevant and need-based education.
This mega University which has an annual enrolment of over 300,000 students
from across the country initiated an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign among its
students from 1999. The World Health Organization and the National AIDS Control Organization of Government of India are collaborators in this massive awareness campaign through distance mode.
Every student receive a folder titled "HIV/AIDS Prevention Guide for students"
along with their study material. This folder contains sever leaflets on various
topics related to HIV/AIDS which include the what, why and how of HIV/AIDS,
guidelines for prevention common misconceptions, need for promotion of voluntary blood donation etc. along with a small questionnaire and a message from
the Vice Chancellor. The students are expected to read the entire manuscript,
complete the questionnaire and mail the same to the University
An analysis of the response received in 2001 is being presented in this paper.
The respondents vary from house wives to professionals such as physicians, IT
specialists, business executives etc. The responses indicated that over a million people read this folder across the country All the respondents stated that
this information folder was useful to a great extent. In fact a large number of requests are being received by the university from various educational, business
and voluntary organizations for bulk copies of this folder for distribution among
their functionaries and beneficiaries.
The University proposes to continue this campaign during the coming years.
Presenting author: Gracious Thomas, S.O.C.E., I.G.N.O.U, New Delhi- 110068.,
India, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: gracious_thomas@hotmail.
com

ThPeG8420 Telelab - Long-distance training method: an
indispensable tool in the training of laboratory area
professionals
C. Ferreira FT Souza, B.P. Lima, J.N. Lima, M.C.S. Dantas. Brazilian STD/AIDS
Programme, W-3 norte - Sepn 511, Bloco C - 2 andar, Asa norte, zip code
70750-537, Brazil
Issues: The STD/AIDS Programme of the Brazilian MOH, has developed The
Long-distance Education System for Public Health Laboratories and Blood Bank
Workers - TELELAB, in order to assist to the challenge of qualifying properly professionals from the Public Laboratories Network in a country of continental geographic dimensions, in which information, education and training of laboratory
workers is difficult and expensive. The objective of this system is to standardize
the performance procedures of HIV/STD diagnosis tests.
Description: TELELAB was launched in April 1997, when 8 video-based courses
were elaborated, including videotapes and manuals. This first series was directly
focussed on the diagnosis of the infections transmitted sexually or vial blood.
In 1998, aiming to assist also professionals from blood banks, a second series
consisted of 8 new courses was made. A third series consisted of 7 additional
courses has being elaborated in 2001, and now the manuals are in publishing
stage, contemplating the tuberculosis, opportunistic infections associated to fungous and parasites, subjects related to the recruitment and clinical screening of
blood donors and immunohematology. Also in 1999, the first series was translated
into Spanish and offered to the participating countries of the Technical Group of
Horizontal Cooperation of Latin America and Caribbean.
Lessons learned: Since the launch of the TELELAB, 51.371 professionals from
996 public and private institutions countrywide have subscribed and participated
in the courses. From this total, 33.445 courses have being successfully concluded
and 17.926 courses are still undergoing.
Recommendation: The results obtained until now have demonstrated the importance of using this sort of tool to capacitate laboratory professionals. Our next
goal is to stimulate the use of TELELAB's courses not only in Brazil but also in all
the Portuguese and Spanish-speaking countries.
Presenting author: Fabio T. Souza, W-3 norte - Sepn 511, Bloco C - 2 andar, Asa
norte, zip code 70750-537, Brazil, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone],
E-mail: [email protected]
ThPeG8422 Religions and school AIDS education: diversity of
approaches
C. Braslavsky. International Bureau of Education, Geneva, Switzerland
This roundtable - the first of its kind ever in an international AIDS Conference -is
proposed by the UNESCO International Bureau of Education (IBE), which has
the mandate to address, develop, monitor and explore the content of HIV/AIDS
education globally.
Many countries face great difficulties in diffusion of innovative school-based AIDS
education curricula. For most, the conservative views of society and the influence
of religious institutions are the primary obstacles.
Our intention is to examine the values, influences and concepts regarding education about HIV/AIDS in schools, as seen and practiced by major religions.
Focusing on schools has important practical meaning, when the world is scalling
up its activities in prevention, expecting dramatic decrease in HIV infection among
young people by 2010.
The roundtable will host senior representatives of Buddhism, Judaism, Islam,
Christianity as well as experts who will provide overview, and set the stage for
the debate.
Duration: 1.5-2 hours session
Format: Scientific Conference Session - roundtable with discussion
Presenting author: Cecilia Braclavsky, IBE Director, CP 199, Geneva, CH-1211,
Switzerland, Tel.: [phone], Fax: [phone], E-mail: c.braslavsky
@ ibe.unesco.org