A THREE-DAY AIDS Competency Assessment Workshop, for cosmetologists, began yesterday in the Conference Room of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) building on Main Street, Georgetown.
The aim is building civil society capacity in support of the national AIDS response and it is being hosted by the Cosmetologists Association of Guyana (CAG) under the auspices of Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) with funding by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The participants are from barber shops and salons in the city who indicated their willingness to partner, as a unit, in key health promoting programmes by registering to take part in the ground breaking event.
In her address at the opening, UNFPA Official, Ms. Babsie Giddings welcomed those gathered and pointed out that their presence is testimony to their willingness to institute HIV/AIDS prevention in their work environment.
She revealed that, under UNFPA, Guyana has the second largest programme implementation body in the Caribbean and partners with Government Ministries and, in this instance, with GRPA.
Giddings said, when the Programme Accelerated Fund (PAF) became available, an innovative method was employed to target vulnerable people, through working with barbers and hairdressers.
“This is a group which had never been targeted by any other programme and a lot of interest has already been generated,” she attested.
EXPANDING
Noting the expansion and recognition of the initiative, Giddings explained that, over the last three years, participants have grown from an initial number of 20 to include the present 30 registered and it is evidence of expanding.
“Everyone who has heard about the programme is impressed that small shops can get involved. This is a place where people gather to discuss a range of topics and spread awareness,” she offered.
Encouraging the gathering to take advantage of all the activities in the programme, Giddings acknowledged that being involved will not only bring personal gratification but will also be beneficial to their businesses and the people they associate with on a daily basis.
Speaking on the occasion, too, GRPA Executive Director, Ms. Beverly Braithwaite-Chan said it is a new approach to training aimed at initiating AIDS prevention within the work environment.
She said the programme will be taking the promotion of AIDS awareness to the next level and would contribute to the great strides already taken in this regard.
“The GRPA is excited to be a part of this process and I encourage you to take advantage of these intense three days of the workshop,” Braithwaite-Chan exhorted.
She lauded the efforts of the UNFPA representatives in lending their support and contributing to make it a reality.
The topics to be covered sexual and reproductive health (SRH), prevention and reduction of gender-based violence (GBV) and HIV/STI prevention.
CAG was formed on September 9 this year and has already hosted a number of activities, including a similar capacity building workshop in Linden and will be involved in the Guyana Defense Force (GDF) Health Fair on November 3.