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Islamic Relief delivers training on HIV/Aids awareness

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Islamic Relief South Africa conducted a HIV/Aids capacity training workshop in Johannesburg last week for relief workers from South Africa, Ethiopia, Niger, Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, Zimbabwe, Mali and Senegal.

Funded by UNAIDS and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the training aimed to equip relief workers on how to deal with issues relating to gender-based violence sexual reproductive health and HIV/Aids in disaster and emergency settings. It provided guidance on how women and child can avoid becoming vulnerable and easy targets of sexual violence during a crisis.

Islamic Relief Programmes Manager and workshop convener, Sherifa Mia, stressed that relief workers often face numerous difficulties in the field due to the lack of training, expertise and financial support. The workshop aimed to upgrade the skills and development of delegates and staff.

The workshop attempted to train aid workers and remind them how important it is to advocate for HIV/Aids sufferers and to promote a safer and healthier lifestyle.

Mia hoped that the workshop will build better partnerships with other faith-based organizations in the humanitarian sector and that it could assist developing countries to establish a “realistic” plan of action on how to tackle the growing pandemic of Aids.

Islamic Relief has implemented other recent programmes related to HIV/Aids. In Afghanistan in 2010-2012, we delivered a programme on HIV/Aids prevention, treatment and care for female drug users and female prisoners. Last year, Islamic Relief also carried out a community mobilisation project to fight HIV/Aids in Niamey and Kollo District in Niger.