Personnel from the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) attended the “Multidisciplinary Training on Violence and HIV Among Children, Adolescents and Young People” organized by the International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs (Philippines), Inc. (ICAP) as part of the implementation of the LIFT Equity Project with funding and technical support from the United States Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC). The training aims to enhance the knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and values of service providers from various sectors in delivering services to children, adolescents, and young people, particularly those affected by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and experiencing violence.
The first batch of the training conducted from September 2-6, 2024 at the Diversion 21 Hotel Mandurriao, Iloilo City was attended by two personnel from the Health Services Unit (HSU)--Dr. Ma. Cecila Villaruz and Dr. Riza Subade. The next batch was attended by three personnel from the UPV Gender and Development Program (Dana Lee Durana, Annee Lloyd Leysa, and Kezzie Lyn Hilado) and one personnel from the Office of Anti-Sexual Harassment (Apple Joy Gequiñana) which was conducted on September 10-13, 2024, at the Seda Hotel, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
The training tackled the incidence of HIV among adolescents and young people, and the barriers and unique considerations for its prevention, testing, care, and treatment. The participants were also oriented on children’s rights, the need to use a child rights lens in service delivery, and the basic components of adolescent and youth-friendly services. The training also discussed trauma, its symptoms and impact, and the common principles of trauma-informed care. Participants were also trained on identifying and responding to violence, and how service providers can protect themselves from trauma, burnout, and compassion fatigue. It culminated with a discussion on how to improve the existing referral system to help address violence and HIV/AIDS among vulnerable sectors especially children and the youth.
Attendance to the said training is a step towards improving the readiness and preparing key units on providing client-centered services for sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence in UP Visayas.