NOVEL APPROACHES TRAINING ON HIV PREVENTION AMONG ADOLOSCENTS

The global community has failed to reduce the rate of infection among teenagers at the same rate as infection among adults despite Fast-Track targets to terminate the AIDS epidemic by 2030. In actuality, the rate of progress is three times slower. AIDS is the number one killer of people in this age range in several regions of the world, including sub-Saharan Africa (UNICEF 2019).

Therefore, the purpose of this workshop was to talk about and remind important stakeholders of the many HIV prevention strategies used among adolescents and young people in East Africa. Based on their knowledge of HIV and their research into the disease, the speakers have been carefully chosen.

Researchers and other significant HIV care and management stakeholders benefited from the training.

The workshop was conducted by the EACCR3 on August 28 and 29, 2023, at the Santa Maria Hotel in Entebbe, with a total of 22 participants from Eastern Africa (Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda).

Goals of the Instruction

To make the participants aware of the steps required in an HIV test.
To get into further detail about PEP and PrEP use.
To comprehend the approaches used to prevent AGYW from contracting HIV.

Modes of instruction

The nine seasoned facilitators gave presentations, there were interactive exercises, and there were real-world examples shared during the course. Prior to the training, participants took a pre-test to gauge their level of knowledge. After the training, they took a post-test to gauge its success.

Topics Included

The following themes were covered:

Introduction to HIV Prevention and Trends of New HIV Infections in Adolescents
HIV Transmission from a Molecular Perspective
WHO/National HIV Prevention Guidelines
HIV Testing Services' Function in HIV Prevention
The behavioral strategies for HIV prevention and VMMC
Opportunities and Challenges in the Development of HIV Vaccines
Development of Microbicides and Treatment as Prevention
Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
HIV prevention strategies and obstacles for adolescents and young adults