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Training to Develop Human Resources for AIDS

Prevention
Anirudha Alam
HIV/AIDS has been turned into a very grave threat to overall development of human
resource in today’s world. The spread of AIDS gaining more speed day to day in every
remote corner of the world is terrorizing us as the potential source of constant anxiety,
distress and stress. There is no doubt that it is endangering the whole human race. As per
the global statistics on the world epidemic of HIV/AIDS published by UNAIDS/WHO in
July 2008, 33 million people were living with HIV/ADS in 2007; whereas during only
the period of 2007, 2.7 million people were newly infected with HIV and 2.0 million
people died of AIDS related ailment.

So to confront this endemic with great confidence, we have to have some well-defined
plans and programs. These plans and programs will comprise human resource
development activities contributing effetely to making people aware of HIV/AIDS and
other STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). In thus way, they will be trained up and
prepared to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS. Training is an effective means to
provide life skill to the vulnerable people that they may be able to have enough courage
for leaving bad practices associated with dowry, early marriage, polygamy, sexual
violence and gender discrimination in personal, family and social life. In this case, it is
necessary to keep in mind that training and human resource development effort should be
based on need.

Human resource development through training is one of the key preconditions in

protecting us from HIV/AIDS. At first, the volunteers and staff appointed by the different
development and networking organizations may take training on developing and
preparing action plan, programs, methods, approaches, policy and strategy to conduct,
organize, implement, supervise and monitor any kind of development activities mostly
related to HIV/AIDS prevention. They will be oriented on different social issues and
consequences which are fueling the vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, ill-health, malnutrition,
ignorance and so on. After being trained up, the workforce will be expert in initiating and
conducting interpersonal communication (IPA) related to developing the practices,
concepts and inclusive techniques of different public health care services. The ultimate
result is that their skills will be enhanced in determining priority health risks and
problems by assembling and analyzing available STDs and behavioral surveillance data;
prioritizing health hazards and issues to be addressed; widening HIV prevention;
identifying prevention activity strengths, opportunity, weakness and threats as well as
improving local resource management in true sense.

People of third world like Bangladesh are vehemently susceptible to HIV/AIDS.

Because, they have not minimal access to knowledge, information and general health
care. Their reproductive health literacy is extremely poor. Trained social workers may
prepare easy understanding messages and materials for being used in training program

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about the dangerous aftermaths of HIV/AIDS. According to the findings of the research
entitled ‘Role of Human Resource Development in Preventing AIDS’ conducted by
Bangladesh Extension Education Services in 2008, 90% of the field workers without
having comprehensive and necessary training can not provide their best services in field
based HIV prevention activities . The main reason of this undesired performance result is
that this kind of services requires sufficient knowledge and skills which are not
achievable going through only a lot of printed publications and materials.

The human resource development activities should be outlined catering to the different
stakeholders. Spread of HIV/AIDS involves a wide range of community issues making
social life more complicated. In the light of several studies initiated by Rainbow Nari O
Shishu Kallayan Foundation in the urban areas of Dhaka district, if only one or two social
issues are addressed and others are avoided the HIV/AIDS prevention program will fail
drastically. So, human resource development should be organized in an integrated way
through comprehensive training oriented activities that the stakeholders especially the
target groups are able to be aware of HIV/AIDS profundity.

Under training oriented integrated activities, target people may get the scope gradually to
have necessary access to latest information, knowledge and know how to get rid of the
attack of HIV/AIDS. This activity may incorporate arranging training, orientation,
workshop, seminar, open discussion, symposium, colloquium, community convention,
courtyard meeting, door to door counseling and so forth.

Unlocking the value of human resources is the core prerequisite in making any
development implementation fruitful. Without timely and need based training activity, it
can’t be imagined that human resource development is being ensured in its own way. So
in the aspect of AIDS prevention, if we want to attain quality and sustainable outcome we
have to set the priority for training of all respective stakeholders as a whole.

Anirudha Alam
Deputy Director (Information & Development Communication) & Trainer
BEES (Bangladesh Extension Education Services)
183, Lane 2, Eastern Road, New DOHS
Mohakhali, Dhaka 1206
Bangladesh.
Website: http://anirudhaalam.onsugar.com/
Phone: +88 01718342876, +88029889732, +88029889733 (office), +88028050514 (res.)
E-mail: anirudhaalam@yahoo.com

Ref: UNAIDS, WHO, UNESCO, World Bank

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