AEGiS-15IAC: Evolution of counseling training at community level in Cambodia.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Evolution of counseling training at community level in Cambodia.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. E10449)

Oeur OS
CHEC, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

ISSUES: CHEC (Cambodian HIV/AIDS Education and Care) introduced Counseling trainings in 1998 for only health workers. Counseling at community level is viewed as a new concept in Cambodia. People are reluctant to divulge personal information and distressful about assertions that information is confidential. Counseling trainings need to take care to use language, which is culturally acceptable and yet can acknowledge the sexually explicit nature of the subject matter. It was identified early that those whose work included a counseling component needed some form of on going peer support.

DESCRIPTION: The training courses focus on empowering individuals and communities to mount an effective HIV/AIDS response. The counseling courses are: 1. Basic and Post basic counseling courses for stakeholders and influential people in the community. 2. Professional counseling courses level 1 and 2 for health center, hospice and referral hospital staff. 3. Counseling supervision course for health and community counselors. Post training monitoring and evaluations are regularly undertaken. Quarterly participatory meetings are held with community counselors to identify faced problems and by case studies find solutions.

LESSONS LEARNED: Counseling activities have sown seeds for collective community initiatives. By providing Counseling courses at community level the prevention and care/support promoting strategies to HIV/AIDS have increased. Establishment of working groups with team leaders have led to improved support mechanism for community counselorsRecommendation: To strengthen the support systems and release faced stress, establishment of Community Action Groups of health workers and community volunteers are important steps. Formation of District Facilitating Teams providing training/mentoring, supervision/guidance and coordination to the Community Action Groups is crucial for a sustainable individual and community response. Further trainings to these groups are needed.

Keywords: AEGIS, Counseling, Residence Characteristics, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Consumer Participation, HIV Infections, Health Planning, Health, Health Education, Peer Group, Health Services, Cambodia, Health Services Needs and Demand, HIV Seropositivity, United States, prevention & control, organization & administration, education, therapy, classification, diagnosis

040711
E10449