The training is designed for young people who are already aware of their HIV-positive status and are undertaking treatment (ARVT – antiretroviral therapy). Topics like “Living Life with HIV”, “My Treatment”, “Healthy Living”, and “Effective Communication, Decision-making and Interaction” are included into training programme.

The training will also involve parents and guardians of young people. They will participate in parallel sessions aimed at improving their knowledge and skills in caring for HIV-positive kids, as well as in developing of healthy and supportive family environments. The training will focus on developing of responsible attitudes of adolescents and their parents to healthy lifestyle, including healthy diets, commitment to the course of treatment, as well as effective interaction with the physicians.

This initiative is unique in a way as it gives an opportunity for young people with HIV from different regions to meet each other and interact. They also learn about ‘peer-to-peer’ training techniques, so that they could share their knowledge with peers at day-care centers for HIV-positive adolescents and kids.

“Supporting people living with HIV is an integral part of UNFPA’s work in this area”, says Dilyafruz Hudaykulova, UNFPA’s National Programme Officer on HIV/AIDS. “We think this is an important initiative, since we not only train HIV-positive young people important life skills, but also promote friendly and supportive environment in their families, thus helping them accept their HIV status and live with it”