Gede Foundation Trains HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing Workers in Nigeria

Gede Foundation, in collaboration with the Society for Family Health and the Nursing & Midwifery Council of Nigeria, trained healthcare workers on HIV counseling and testing in the following states: Kwara, Gombe, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi, Zamfara, and the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) of Nigeria.

The training was supported by Global Fund (Round 5, Objective 2) aimed at increasing the public's accessibility to HIV counseling and testing services in healthcare facilities across the country.

A total of 204 healthcare workers participated in the training workshops held in two sites (Kano and Gwagwalada) from February 23 to March 19, 2009. Resource persons from Gede Foundation, Family Health Internation (FHI/GHAIN), the Federal Ministry of Health, and the Nursing & Midwifery Council of Nigeria packaged and conducted the training modules.

Topics and activities included: basic facts about HIV/AIDS, the situation in Nigeria, treatment of opportunistic infection and treatment options including ARV, prevention of mother-to-child transmission and feeding options, principles and techniques in HIV counseling and testing, nutrition, logistics and supply management, and an overview of the National HCT guidelines. The participants gained hands-on training in testing and counseling during sessions from different health facilities near their training site. Gwagwalada participants went to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, while those at the Kano site went to four hospitals (Bayero Pediatric Hospital, Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Sheikh Jidda General Hospital, and Nuhu Bamalli Hospital.

Participants were evaluated on their knowledge of HIV/AIDS counseling before and after the training. Generally, there was increase in knowledge among participants from both sites, with scores improving from 47% to 72% on average. Increase in knowledge was influenced by several factors, namely, age, educational training, degree of participants' involvement, and motivational level.

For more information, visit the Gede Foundation at www.gedefoundation.org.