Contact Information: Contact: Matt Lauer 202-683-3127 mlauer@qorvis.com
Gede Foundation Trains HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing Workers in Nigeria
| Source: Gede Foundation
WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - May 15, 2009) - Gede Foundation, in collaboration
with the Society for Family Health and the Nursing & Midwifery Council of
Nigeria, trained healthcare workers on HIV counseling and testing in the
following states: Kwara, Gombe, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Zamfara, and the
Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) of Nigeria.
The training was supported by Global Fund (Round 5, Objective 2) aimed at
increasing the public's accessibility to HIV counseling and testing
services in healthcare facilities across the country.
A total of 204 healthcare workers participated in the training workshops
held in two sites (Kano and Gwagwalada) from February 23 to March 19, 2009.
Resource persons from Gede Foundation, Family Health Internation
(FHI/GHAIN), the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Nursing & Midwifery
Council of Nigeria packaged and conducted the training modules.
Topics and activities included: basic facts about HIV/AIDS, the situation
in Nigeria, treatment of opportunistic infection and treatment options
including ARV, prevention of mother-to-child transmission and feeding
options, principles and techniques in HIV counseling and testing,
nutrition, logistics and supply management, and an overview of the National
HCT guidelines. The participants gained hands-on training in testing and
counseling during sessions from different health facilities near their
training site. Gwagwalada participants went to the University of Abuja
Teaching Hospital, while those at the Kano site went to four hospitals
(Bayero Pediatric Hospital, Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Sheikh
Jidda General Hospital, and Nuhu Bamalli Hospital.
Participants were evaluated on their knowledge of HIV/AIDS counseling
before and after the training. Generally, there was increase in knowledge
among participants from both sites, with scores improving from 47% to 72%
on average. Increase in knowledge was influenced by several factors,
namely, age, educational training, degree of participants' involvement, and
motivational level.
For more information, visit the Gede Foundation at www.gedefoundation.org.