AFEW Projects  

COUNSELLING
Russian Federation

Project duration:
August 2004 — August 2006

Donor(s):
The programme is implemented under the GLOBUS project with the financial support from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Partners:
Regional training counselling centres in Kazan, Krasnoyarsk and St. Petersburg

Regions:
Vologda, Nizhny Novgorod, Orenburg, Pskov, Tver and Tomsk regions; Krasnoyarsky Krai; Republics of Buryatia and Tatarstan; St. Petersburп

Background

In order to evaluate potential risks and to make effective decisions, it is crucial that everyone be informed of their HIV-status. However, testing alone is not enough to bring about positive behaviour changes and encourage wise choices about protecting one’s health: such changes require counselling and – depending on test results – treatment and social support. The voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) method is the official governmental testing policy in Russia, however, the reality is that, in practice, most HIV tests are performed without informed consent or counselling.

AFEW’s Counselling project, together with AFEW’s governmental and non-governmental partners, support the translation of official policy into action by implementing proven, cost-effective methods of prevention. Aside from its more apparent functions, counselling also focuses on subjects such as treatment adherence, burnout syndrome prevention and case management.

Within just two years of its creation, the Counselling project established regional counselling training centres (CTC) in St. Petersburg, Kazan and Krasnoyarsk. Together, they serve the 10 regions of the GLOBUS project by working with existing educational structures. For instance, the CTC of Kazan works with specialists of the Tatarstan Republic and the Nizhniy Novgorod and Orenburg regions; the CTC of Krasnoyarsk works with specialists from the Republic of Buryatiya and the Tomsk region; and the CTC of St. Petersburg works with specialists from the Vologda, Pskov and Tver regions. The CTCs are structured as partnerships between AIDS centres, NGOs and the chairs of respective medical institutes.

The Counselling project uses experienced specialists to train staff in HIV/AIDS counselling. The three existing CTCs provide informational, methodological and technical support for counselling and testing services. Staff of the Counselling project plan to design a training programme for medical and health professionals to be incorporated into the state educational structure.

Overall goal

Promote the integration of counselling into regional HIV prevention programmes, thereby supporting people living with HIV/AIDS.

Main specific objectives

• Support existing VCT services by providing them with tools and opportunities to further their development. This support will take the form of ensuring effective exchanges of experience among service specialists (professional discussions); developing productive and sustainable co-operation between VCT services and organisations relevant to their work; and identifying experts to represent VCT interests in communication with other professional systems and governmental structures.

• Train healthcare professionals in HIV/AIDS counselling skills. Knowledge on effective methods of promoting positive behaviour change among patients will help make counselling a regular part of professionals’ testing routine.

• Train peer counsellors on HIV/AIDS counselling. Representatives of the HIV-positive community must be trained in counselling in order to stimulate changes in the behaviour of those who, for whatever reason, do not take advantage of existing medical and social services. A stable group of trained peer counsellors will then be equipped to disseminate these skills among others in their communities. As peer counsellors are often not specialists in HIV/AIDS and related prevention issues, they must work together with professional service providers such as AIDS centres and other medical and social organisations.

• Improve national policy and develop procedures, standards and recommendations on HIV counselling and testing through the development and support of a stable group of national experts.

• Institutionalise training skills and knowledge through the development of regional counselling training centres in St. Petersburg, Kazan and Krasnoyarsk.