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Darfur
is one of the provinces in Sudan believed to have the
lowest rates of people infected and affected by
HIV/AIDS. Characterized by highly remarkable and
distinct cultural and religious norms which for example
include “sharia” meaning no sex before marriage and
outside marriage, one would appreciate the context of
this culture to lessen the transmission and the spread
of HIV. However the high frequency of Sexual and Gender
Based Violence (SGBV) IN Darfur threatens the very
societal systems, norms and values in place to help
alleviate the transmission and the spread of HIV.
Although it is still difficult to penetrate the
vulnerable groups and communities to address the issue
of HIV prevention in Darfur, as an HIV/AIDS Trainer
Counsellor I still believe one day soon we will get
there. We will unearth the Darfurian men and women as
well as youth’s capabilities to prevent the transmission
and the spread of HIV. We will one day have access to
even IDP camps and be able to deliver the message across
and as a UNV HIV/AIDS Trainer; I will hold a flag that
day and congratulate the efforts of volunteerism
globally.
As a UNV HIV/AIDS Trainer Counsellor, part of my major
responsibilities include delivering of Induction
sessions for new arrivals in the mission, HIV/AIDS
awareness and peer education trainings in different
sectors for Millitary, military observers, UN police and
civilian personnel as well as conduct regular
counselling sessions in sites where the mission operates
its VCT/HIV/AIDS Programme. The responsibilities also
include participating in GoS Ministry of Health weekly
Health Coordination working group meeting and also to
attend monthly HIV/AIDS Coordination working group
meeting with Sudan National Aids Programme as well as (SGBV)
working group meeting with UNFPA and other UN agencies
and NGos.
To date I have delivered HIV/AIDS Awareness trainings in
El Genina, Nyala, ZamZam and El Fasher for Kenyan
Nationals Military Police. I have also delivered the
same trainings to Rwandese contingent joint with
Nigerian FPUs in Zalengei collaborating with Conduct and
Discipline Unit. Furthermore I separately delivered
HIV/AIDS awareness training for Rwandese contingents in
Nertiti and Mukjar. Further in Zalengei FPUs which
comprised. In each of this training I have successfully
demonstrated correct use of condom and also distributed
condoms to the participants in the trainings. Finally,
during the trainings I have managed to pilot the DVD
provided by DPKO HIV/AIDS Coordination Unit on HIV/AIDS
as a hidden risk in peace keeping mission.
I have also routinely delivered HIV/AIDS sessions in the
Integrated Induction Training organized by IMTC and have
also demonstrated condom use and distributed condoms
during the sessions. In addition I have routinely
participated in stakeholders meeting including UNFPA,
Ministry of Health, and Other related agencies
I have participated in providing technical support to
Sudan Ministry of Health by assisting in escorting and
monitoring the delivery of Reproductive health kits to
their final destination to Kutum Rural Hospital in Kutum.
The kits were donated to Kutum Rural Hospital by UNFPA
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