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Dealing with HIV/AIDS – training and awareness-raising for professionals

A project of the Munich-Kyiv city-to-city partnership

Some 2,000 kilometres lie between the Bavarian and Ukrainian metropolises, which have been twinned since 1989. Meetings between church congregations, school partnerships, civic engagement and cooperation between the two municipalities have made the partnership a vibrant one to this day.

Poster wall for HIV/Aids education
Reducing fear of contact – this is the aim of the twin cities' project. Photo: Landeshauptstadt München

According to the United Nations, Ukraine has the highest rate of new HIV infections in Europe. AIDS is still a taboo subject in society, and stigmatisation and intolerance of infected persons and groups with risky behaviour – prostitutes, drug addicts or homosexuals – are widespread among the public at large. Reservations and fear of contact with these groups are even evident in medical institutions and organisations. Moreover, there are barely any interdisciplinary approaches to treatment, care and support in the medical and therapeutic fields. The training of social workers does not include any specific expertise in the field of HIV/AIDS.

Lecture for the trainers during their job shadowing at the University Hospital in Munich
Trainers during work shadowing at the hospital in Munich. Photo: Landeshauptstadt München

In their city partnership, which has existed since 1989, Munich and Kyiv have already being working together in HIV prevention for several years. To achieve a long-term improvement in dealing with the virus and with those affected, it is necessary to train professionals and raise their awareness. Against this backdrop, the twin cities have been conducting a project on this since 2013. The project aims to train and raise the awareness of doctors and social workers in the City of Kyiv, and step up networking and cooperation between municipal and non-municipal specialist facilities and counselling centres in the city. The existing services will be better tailored to those affected and to groups with risky behaviour.

The trainers from Kiev at the Munich Aids Help stand at World AIDS Day in Munich.
The participants from Kyiv at the World AIDS Day in Munich. Photo: Landeshauptstadt München

In 2014, specialists from Munich's municipal counselling centre for sexually transmitted diseases, the municipal drug counselling centre, the Münchner Aids Hilfe and the 'connect plus' association developed a multiplier training course, and trained 19 trainers. In December 2014, to deepen their knowledge the trainers from Kyiv spent between one and two weeks on work shadowing assignments in various Munich facilities. In particular, the good networking and cooperation of all actors at the municipal level is seen as a success factor in Munich, and this will also be implemented in Kiev. In 2015, the multipliers from Kyiv held training sessions for 60 colleagues and networked with other medical professionals and social workers from the City of Kyiv, and from private institutions and organisations. Round tables were established in three districts of Kyiv, which still take place regularly today. Multidisciplinary teams work together there to further develop the existing services at district level.

The project, which ended in early 2016, was partially funded by Engagement Global gGmbH / the Service Agency Communities in One World, on behalg the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.