Human Touch Foundation and Just Imagine in collaboration with Department of Education and Goa State AIDS Control Society is holding a half day sensitization workshop on “Let’s End HIV Stigma”, an attempt at improving the mindsets and the approach of educational institutions when dealing with children and adolescents living with HIV. The workshop for teachers and heads of educational institutions, will be held at Baywatch Resort, Sernabatim, Colva on 5th February 2019 from 9.30 hrs to 14.00 hrs.
“It has been found that there are incidents every year in educational institutions that “avoid or shun” a children living with HIV and believe that children should not be allowed to continue to attend school. These attitudes were most strongly associated having inaccurate beliefs about HIV and especially that HIV can be caught by casual contact and lack of specific HIV education. During the workshop, emphasis will be placed on introspection in relation to self-awareness, attitudes, values and beliefs as these are factors affecting stigma and discrimination, says Peter F. Borges, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Human Touch Foundation. “When you disclose openly to a teacher that you are HIV-positive and that you taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) drugs, they spread rumors in the whole school and you end up being isolated. I am facing a difficult life at school, explains Mary (name changed) studying in high school. Stigma is still a factor for many children and adolescents living with HIV in Goa. Hence, interventions should aim to correct misconceptions that HIV can be transmitted via casual contact with children living with HIV. This workshop is a beginning of the journey from Human Touch Foundation towards zero HIV discrimination in Goa, explains Basavaraj Katti, Social Protection Officer, Human Touch Foundation. Registration for the workshop can be done via https://goo.gl/forms/WcA7kZnbojLjfQhM2. More details could be had from Basavaraj Katti – 9960818587; Mr Richard William – 8197549909; Michael Kujur - 8275259185 (Human Touch Foundation) and Ms. Genesis D’Silva - 98902 88153 (Just Imagine) Iris C F Gomes Editor of Prutha (www.pruthagoa.com) Find us on Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/pruthagoa?fref=ts> Google+ <https://plus.google.com/u/0/+PruthaGoa/posts> Twitter <https://twitter.com/Pruthagoa?lang=en> LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/company/prutha-goa?trk=biz-companies-cym>
