Workers of Kaluga, Sverdlovsk and Vologda regions’ enterprises undertake voluntary HIV-testing

Alexandra Krivosheina, Deputy Chair Kaluga territory trade unions and Dr. Irina Chernova, Chief of the prevetion unit, Kaluga territory AIDS Center

Thus, these two regions of Russia joined the ILO’s global initiative Voluntary and Confidential HIV Counselling and Testing (VCT@WORK).

In November HIV-testing sites were opened at the LLC Obninks research and manufactory facility “Techonologia”, Sinarsky pipe plant in Kamensk-Uralsky and at the Vologda ball bearings plant in Vologda. Workers of these industrial enterprises could undertake voluntary and confidential HIV counselling and testing.

Information meeting for over 80 workers of one of the divisions took place at RMF “Technologia”, the interactive exhibition “Remember. Know. Live!” was opened at the Sinarsky pipe plant, while the Vologda ball bearings plant hosted the photo exhibition “In Positive Mood” that united Vologda’s famous people who did not stay indifferent to HIV/AIDS-related problems.

“At all enterprises, where we hold events to promote HIV prevention, we also organize the interactive exhibition “Remember. Know. Live!” said Anzhelika Podymova, chief doctor at the Sverdlovsk region HIV/AIDS Centre. “Visitors of this exhibition go into a 40-minute story about the HIV-infection looking into its different aspects. They have an opportunity to ask questions, to realize their own risks and to take a well-balanced decision on the need of HIV-testing.”

“The Sverdlovsk and Vologda regions expressed willingness to join this initiative,” said Ekaterina Ivanova, ILO Moscow Focal Point for HIV/AIDS and the World of Work for the Russian Federation. “At their workplaces adults can get and perceive basic information about the HIV-infection, think over possible risky situations and hereafter change their behavior. Every worker should realize that early disease identification allows to start treatment as early as possible and to reduce risks for everyone. Workers living with HIV should without hindrance implement their right to work.”

“We must support workers living with HIV, we must give a helping hand to them and provide active, good and real treatment, we must do our utmost to prevent discrimination against these people,” Tatyana Melnikova, chief doctor at the Volodga region HIV/AIDS centre, said, addressing participants in a roundtable meeting at the Vologda ball bearings plant.

Source: nashkamensk.ru, regnum.ru, severinfo.ru