Peer Education is an approach, a communication channel, a methodology, a philosophy and a strategy.
(Centre for Harm Reduction, Bu rnet Institute, Australia)
Drug users and Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) are a vulnerable and marginalized group with a high risk of getting HIV/AIDS, primarily due to associated risk behavior i.e., unsafe injecting, unprotected sexual practices, and other drug related harms that also affects the socioeconomic condition of the users, their families and the communities they live in. In addition, due to high stigma and discrimination associated with drug use, access to treatment facilities is limited for the drug user community.
In the ever-changing drug use scenario, it is imperative that training models be variable and adaptable to the demands of changing scenarios. Thus the peer volunteers who are current users should be involved in the training process, since they come from the experience of drug use and are vulnerable to the risk associated with drug use. It is important for service providers to understand that different individuals (drug users) need different treatments at different periods of time, depending on their settings and meanwhile relapses should be addressed in a wider perspective.
Keeping above in mind,
Project H13 (Prevention of transmission of HIV among drug users in SAARC Countries) undertook a
Peer Volunteers Lesson Plans (PVLP) Training with the main aim and objective being to increase safer practices (injecting and sexual) among drug users, IDUs and their sexual partners .
The English-language term '
Peer' refers to "one that is of equal standing with another; one belonging to the same societal group especially based on age, grade or status" (Peer Education & HIV/AIDS, Concepts Uses & Challenges, UNAIDS Best Practice Collection, 1999).
Peer education is done by the users, for the users, about the users and provided by users for reducing drug related harm. In the context of drug use, peer education is a cost effectiveeducation model, to reach out to drug users in the community, who cannot be reached by any other means. There is therefore an advantage in using knowledge and expertise that already exists in the community to convey messages on safer practices. The rationale behind using peers as resource person is that the interaction that happens, naturally and instinctively among drug users in their everyday lives including sharing of information is more effective than information shared through formal channels. Many drug users have no other recourse, but to look to each other for information.
Over all goal of the PVLP training programme: To reduce unsafe injecting and sexual risk behavior associated with infected and affected drug users, IDUs and their partners, through various lesson plans and training sessions.
The training also intend to emphasise the importance of disseminating information on safer practices (SP), HIV/AIDS and other Blood Borne Viruses (BBVs) among the peer networks for preventing drug related harms due to high risk behaviors. Team Leaders, Peer Outreach Coordinators (POCs) and Peer Outreach Workers (POWs) are being trained over a period of 5 days to enable them to further train peer volunteers to practice safer behavior and in turn influence safer practices among their drug user groups. Peer Volunteers, identified by each partner NGO in their respective demonstration site, in turn are expected to further reach out with information and services to current users and regular sexual partners.
The aim of the training program: To provide and build capacity, among the Peer Volunteers, POWs and POCs, through "consistent" behavioral change therapy, according to their individual needs through a wide range of sessions/topics including inputs on various health related information including drugs & HIV, information & education (IEC), capacity building and service related information. The Peer volunteers in turn will train their partners/peers on these thematic issues according to their capability. This will enable current drug users and their regular sex partners to learn of these issues and discuss them in an environment that is "non-threatening", thereby making the information easier to absorb and facilitating safer behaviors.
PVLP Training sessions intend to disseminate information for behaviour change on four key areas:
1.
Drug Use & Health Related Issues
Health Related Issues
Basic Knowledge of HIV/STI Related Issues
Vein Care Management & Safer Injection/Sex
Abscess Management & Wound Management
Safer Behavioral Practices
Care & Support For Peers/ILWHAs
Opportunistic Infections (OIs)
ARV Treatment
2.
Information & Education
Behavioral Change Communication (BCC/IEC)
Drug Users Rights & Issues
Concept of Harm Reduction
Drug Substitution Therapy
Treatment Options
Women & Drug Use
Counseling
3.
Capacity Building Among Peers
Community Mobilization & Rapport Building
Communication Skills
Leadership Qualities
Overdose Management
4.
Service Related
Needle Syringe Exchange Program (NSEP)
Condom Promotion
Referral & Networking
Formation of Peer Networks/Support Groups
Advocacy & Sensitization
Trainings are being carried out by Team Consultants along with a Master Trainer; latter being the resource person/ team leader from the concerned mentor agency, to help facilitate training through key inputs & translation (if required).
A Master Training Workshop for PVLP was organized from 12-15 October 2006 at Kolkata, India. The participants included Regional Support Persons / representatives of the 8 RRTCs, Team Leaders of the 6 Partner NGOs of RRTCs East 1 & 2 and two representatives from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal also attended the workshop.
The Consultant Trainer Team has developed a 24 PVLP programme in a condensed time frame to suit the schedule of the workshop format of only 4 days. However, each lesson plan with it components would take one week to deliver, thus resulting in a 24 week programme in the field.
The sessions in the training consist of a combination of Brain Storming, Free Listing, Mock Sessions, Role Plays, Power Point presentations, Film Clips and short didactic sessions with recaps being made for every section or lesson plan and documented; thereby ensuring that sessions more participatory and ensure that everyone has something useful to contribute.. Discussions occur during and after sessions, related to clarifications and recommendations for change in the PVLP document. The Project Consultant conduct daily review of the programme delivery as well as coordination for the Training Team and also provide technical clarity where required during the sessions as well as deliver special inputs for developing resource base. Presence of field-experienced participants provide realism and better delivery of messages during mock sessions and role-plays. Daily feedback is being obtained from the participants for both quantitative and qualitative assessment. Post programme feedback is also being obtained from the participants, to cover concepts, content, delivery and anticipated impact. Trainers feedback will be compiled and made available shortly to the project for review of systems and alterations in subsequent levels of activity as indicated.
