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HIV/AIDS National Capacity Building and Awareness Raising Activities in BiH

IOM is implementing activities aimed at decreasing the vulnerability of mobile populations in BiH to HIV/AIDS, in order to support the BiH National Strategy for HIV/AIDS. Through this project, IOM is conducting two social researches in order to assess the needs and perceptions of migrant groups, and assess the best approaches to reach them with HIV/AIDS prevention activities. The first research is entitled "Mobility and HIV/AIDS", comprising of a pilot qualitative and quantitative data collection on the HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of certain mobile populations in BiH. The second research, "Mass Media Communication on HIV/AIDS", analyses mass media outputs for 2005 in BiH, on the basis of key indicators provided by IOM Sarajevo. IOM is additionally building the capacity of local actors and the media to address HIV/AIDS among mobile populations, through two capacity building training courses. The first, "HIV/AIDS and mobile populations: Strengthening NGO Cooperation and Communication" aims to build communication networks between national NGOs working with mobile groups and/or HIV/AIDS issues. The second, "Training Course for NGOs and Mass Media Professionals: Understanding HIV/AIDS Data and Information & Knowledge and Attitudes") brings together mass media actors with national NGOs in BiH in order to discuss HIV/AIDS issues and representation in the media, building a common framework of understanding for future reporting and activities.

During the reporting period:

632 completed KAP HIV/AIDS questionnaires were collected by IOM from participants from mobile groups in BiH (220 Roma, 128 international bus/truck drivers, 105 refugees, 67 IDPs/returnees, 50 international humanitarian/ development workers, 30 victims of trafficking or abuse and 30 irregular migrants). Questionnaires were analyzed by Mareco Index Bosnia Market Research Company, and IOM Sarajevo compiled a report which is ready for translation and wide distribution among related actors.

IOM compiled a final Mass Media Research Report, based on an analysis of print media throughout 2005 on the basis of key indicators provided by IOM to Mareco Index Bosnia Market Research Company. The report is ready for translation and wide distribution among related actors.

Two training workshops were held, focusing on NGOs and Mass media. IOM held the first HIV training, entitled "HIV/AIDS and mobile populations: Strengthening NGO Cooperation and Communication", on 19-20th April in Sarajevo. 26 national NGO representatives attended alongside representatives from IOM Pristina and IOM Skopje who had previously worked on a regional IOM HIV/AIDS project in 2003. Two Italian trainers led the sessions, which covered issues of NGO networking and strategies regarding HIV and mobile populations. The training was well reported in the media following the event.

IOM designed and held the second HIV training, entitled “Mass Media and HIV/AIDS: Informing Attitudes and Behaviour in BiH”, on 7-8th June in Vlasic. 20 representatives of national and entity-level broadcast and print media attended the training, with 4 representatives of the most active national level sexual health NGOs. The training session was managed by the IOM regional HIV/AIDS coordinator from IOM Rome, and an Italian journalist. Additionally, the HIV/AIDS Coordinators from the Ministries of Health in the Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH delivered presentations on HIV/AIDS, and remained at the training, contributing to discussion throughout regarding future cooperation and the media role in HIV/AIDS awareness-raising. The training was positively covered by the media both during and following the event.

DONORS:

Development Cooperation Ireland

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