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HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health Seminar for refugees: new thoughts and decisions

April 2014, DUSHANBE (Tajikistan) - HIV/AIDS and Reproductive health training was conducted by UNHCR partner, Y-Peer Youth Network in Dushanbe and Vahdat, in order to help the refugees know more about HIV/AIDS, and preventive measures as well as in better family planning.

Both topics were introduced to more than 80 refugees in an interactive way. The volunteers involved refugees into the discussions on these sensitive issues via interactive games, presentations and questions. "Questions, such as family planning and HIV/AIDS usually are not freely discussed within the refugee community. But these kinds of workshops give an opportunity for the refugees to talk and get deeper understanding of the issues. These are opportunities when every refugee voice counts, and we guarantee confidentiality" - said Mr. Jose Euceda, UNHCR Representative in Tajikistan.

Amirhussain, a refugee from Afghanistan, who has been living in Tajikistan for more than 5 years and took part in such training for the first time, underlined that this training was very useful, interesting and informative. He wants to inform and explain about it to his friends. "What is more important, now I better know about the preventive measures, about better family planning, which will be useful for myself and friends" - he said.

Following the information about HIV and AIDS a session about reproductive health was held and the changes the body undergoes during life and pregnancy were explained. The refugees asked a lot of questions about the better family planning.
At the end of the seminar the refugees thanked the partner, Y-Peer Youth Network underlining that they obtained useful information.