COAF CONDUCTS OF HEALTHY LIFESTYLE IN COMMUNITIES OF THE REPUBLIC
ARMENPRESS
Dec 17, 2008
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 17, ARMENPRESS: Following World AIDS Day celebrated
worldwide on December 1, the community of Lernagog recently hosted
an event in the premises of a newly renovated village school with
the aim of raising public awareness and advocating HIV/AIDS free
behavior in the community and throughout the region. Lernagog is one
of six villages included in Comprehensive Rural Development Program,
initiated and implemented by the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF)
since early 2006. Other communities constituting COAF’s Model Cluster
include Argina, Dalarik, Karakert, Miasnikian and Shenik.
An official from COAF told Armenpress that the event was organized
by the members of the local "YES" youth club on healthy lifestyle
established by Heifer International in close cooperation with
COAF. COAF health education team additionally supported Lernagog
club members in developing and elaborating the materials for the
event. Through the mentioned club, which makes part of a chain
of 30 clubs operating in four villages of the Model Cluster and
one neighboring Hushakert, the local youth acquires knowledge and
builds capacity on disease prevention, healthy nutrition, physical
activities and healthy behavior. Other clubs focus on such areas of
development as agribusiness, civic education, ecology, logics and
journalism/public relations.
The participants and organizers built the event on question and answer
scheme, which was taking part among inhabitants of the Earth planet
and other planets of our Universe. The main character named Little
Healthy landed on the Earth planet from the Planet of the Healthy and
knew very little about HIV/AIDS. The members of Lernagog Youth Club on
Healthy Lifestyle invited Little Healthy to join their discussion and
talk about the difference between HIV-infected individuals and people
suffering from AIDS, the nature of HIV and ways of its transmission,
the essence of ‘risk group’ and its potential members. Through role
play, the event participants also considered HIV transmission through
unprotected sex and also presented some statistics on HIV/AIDS affected
children and adults throughout Armenia and abroad.
Of special importance were the stage decorations, divided into
two colors – white and black. The white part of the stage was
totally inhabited by healthy people, and the guests and the local
community could witness that this part was blossoming with flowers
and flourishing with sunshine, thus promising a bright future and
prosperity for its inhabitants. Meanwhile the opposite black camp
symbolized diseases in general, and AIDS in particular, with its grey
and gloomy colors, arousing sadness and bore among its residents.
For the past two years, apart from classes on healthy lifestyle
conducted in Lernagog and other five villages of the Model Cluster,
COAF community health education program additionally included
trainings and workshops on first aid, prevention of infectious
diseases, management of chronic health problems, prenatal care,
child care, cervical and breast cancer prevention, family planning,
sexually transmitted diseases, and family violence.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
