Support centre for all affected by HIV/AIDSSupport centre for all affected by HIV/AIDS

Friendship Friendship andand SolidaritySolidarity

““The experience The experience of one moment of dignity of one moment of dignity is worth just as much as a is worth just as much as a

change that lasts a change that lasts a lifetime.”lifetime.”

WhWho we areo we are??

AA contact and resource centre for people living with contact and resource centre for people living with and working in the field of HIV & AIDS.and working in the field of HIV & AIDS.

The DIA+LOGS Centre, Riga is a joint endeavour The DIA+LOGS Centre, Riga is a joint endeavour between the Latvia NGOs between the Latvia NGOs

•AGIHAS (self support group for PLWHAs) andAGIHAS (self support group for PLWHAs) and•LCG (Latvian Contact Group on Urban, Industrial and LCG (Latvian Contact Group on Urban, Industrial and Rural Mission).Rural Mission).

The The Board Board is comprised of key stakeholders and actors is comprised of key stakeholders and actors in the HIV/ AIDS field in Latvia.in the HIV/ AIDS field in Latvia.

Primary Primary ObjectiveObjective

TThe he development and operationdevelopment and operation of a low-threshold centre for of a low-threshold centre for

PLWHAs and at-risk groups in greater PLWHAs and at-risk groups in greater Riga. Riga.

______________________________________________________________

Conveying knowledge and experienceConveying knowledge and experience about HIV and AIDS, about HIV and AIDS,

providing a social environment, providing a social environment, one-to-one conversations, group sessionsone-to-one conversations, group sessions

for target groups …for target groups …

Primary Primary Objective Objective (cont.)(cont.)

… … while empowering PLWHAs and providing while empowering PLWHAs and providing advocacy are primary aims. advocacy are primary aims.

____________________________

The psychosocial support and prevention The psychosocial support and prevention information will be developed in part information will be developed in part

through twinning between Latvian and through twinning between Latvian and Norwegian partners as well as with others in Norwegian partners as well as with others in

future.future.____________________________

Outreach programs are also under Outreach programs are also under development. development.

GOALSGOALS

• CreateCreate and run and run the first support and resource the first support and resource centre for PLWHAs and centre for PLWHAs and others affected by HIV/AIDS others affected by HIV/AIDS in Latvia providing information, spiritual, in Latvia providing information, spiritual, psychological and social welfare support.psychological and social welfare support.

• Create Create and run and run an an informationinformationand resource centre forand resource centre forpeople interested inpeople interested inand working in theand working in theHIV/ AIDS sector. HIV/ AIDS sector.   

Before renovation, summer 2002

KEY KEY CONSTITUENTSCONSTITUENTS

• PLWHAsPLWHAs• At-risk youthAt-risk youth• IntravenousIntravenous

drug users drug users• CommercialCommercial

sex workers sex workers• Men who haveMen who have

sex with men sex with men• Health care communityHealth care community ....... and their families, partners & friends. ....... and their families, partners & friends.

SUPPORTSUPPORT• FinancialFinancial support has been receivedsupport has been received from:from:

– Norwegian Ministry for Health and Social AffairsNorwegian Ministry for Health and Social Affairs– Trondheim Church City MissionTrondheim Church City Mission– Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Police through the Nord-Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Police through the Nord-

Balt PrisonBalt Prison

• In-kind support from:In-kind support from:– OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe)OSCE (Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe) - -

Office furnitureOffice furniture– AKSEPT – centre of all affected by HIVAKSEPT – centre of all affected by HIV

(Oslo Church City Mission)(Oslo Church City Mission)– NGHC (Norwegian Gay Health Committee)NGHC (Norwegian Gay Health Committee)– International Department ofInternational Department of

Diakonhjemmet College, OsloDiakonhjemmet College, Oslo– ARMANDS BISENIEKS ARHITEKTI - ARMANDS BISENIEKS ARHITEKTI -

space plansspace plans and co-ordination and co-ordination with municipal building authoritieswith municipal building authorities

ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES TO DATETO DATE

• DIA+LOGS is registered DIA+LOGS is registered and a fully recognized and a fully recognized NGONGO i in the Republic of n the Republic of Latvia.Latvia.

• Renovation works has Renovation works has been started in been started in leaseleasedd 107 m2 space in the 107 m2 space in the central Riga central Riga and with and with opening set by December opening set by December 1st1st..

• A volunteer project A volunteer project manager is participatingmanager is participating

Before renovation, summer 2002

October 2002

PROJECTS PROJECTS ALREADY ALREADY

INITIATEDINITIATED• Prisoner outreach program at Brasas Prisoner outreach program at Brasas

Prison in Riga and Valmiera prison – Prison in Riga and Valmiera prison – counselling and information about HIV/ counselling and information about HIV/ AIDS to pre-trial youth detainees.AIDS to pre-trial youth detainees.

• A training programme for prison staff is A training programme for prison staff is also under development in co-operation also under development in co-operation with the Nord-Balt Prison Project. with the Nord-Balt Prison Project.

October 2002

Programmes & Programmes & Services Services as plannedas planned

• Seminars on HIV/ AIDS for drug users, Seminars on HIV/ AIDS for drug users, commercial sex workers and other key commercial sex workers and other key constituents organised with strategic partners constituents organised with strategic partners (e.g. AIDS Prevention Centre, Red Cross). Some (e.g. AIDS Prevention Centre, Red Cross). Some key topics are:key topics are:– HIV/ AIDS, STDs, safe sexHIV/ AIDS, STDs, safe sex, life with HIV, life with HIV

• Weekly discussion groups about HIV/ AIDS, Weekly discussion groups about HIV/ AIDS, tolerancetolerance

• Individual and group psychological counselling, Individual and group psychological counselling, self-help groupsself-help groups

• Library of HIV/ AIDS informationLibrary of HIV/ AIDS information

Programmes & Programmes & Services Services as planned as planned

(Cont.)(Cont.) • Needle exchange (in partnership with the AIDS Needle exchange (in partnership with the AIDS

Prevention Centre) Prevention Centre) • Meeting place for Latvian NGOs working in the HIV/ Meeting place for Latvian NGOs working in the HIV/

AIDS sector.AIDS sector.• Outreach programme to key constituents, providing Outreach programme to key constituents, providing

services on location. services on location. Continuation of Continuation of prison outreach prison outreach programme. Other programmes to include the AIDS programme. Other programmes to include the AIDS Ward of the Latvian Infectology Centre.Ward of the Latvian Infectology Centre.

• Diaconal programme – open-faith evenings, initiate Diaconal programme – open-faith evenings, initiate weekly meals for constituents. weekly meals for constituents.

• World AIDS Day Ecumenical Service on 1 December, World AIDS Day Ecumenical Service on 1 December, 2002. (2002. (Theme: Stigma and discriminationTheme: Stigma and discrimination))

HIV infections newly diagnosed, per million HIV infections newly diagnosed, per million population, population,

WHO European Region, cases reported in WHO European Region, cases reported in 20012001

Estonia – 1067

Russia - 594

Latvia – 347

Cumulative number of HIV Cases in Different Transmission Groups 15th October, 2002

2 2 2 516 18

57

99

1 2 2

50

7181

92 98

1 1 1 1 3 923

42

173

1 2 2 4

32

219

11

169

14 17 25 34

78 9

86

237

1412

86

1 1 6

125

311

685

1329

1671

0

40

80

120

160

200

240

280

320

360

400

1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

heterosexual

homosexual

unknown

from mother to child

injecting drug users

Ways of transmission of HIV infection in Latvia (15th October 2002)

homosexual4.4%

heterosexual9.8%

injecting drug users75%

from mother to child0.2%

unknown10.6%

I V D UI V D U• Estimated that in Latvia recently there are ~40.000-Estimated that in Latvia recently there are ~40.000-

50.000 drug users, out of them approximately 70% 50.000 drug users, out of them approximately 70% are intravenous drug usersare intravenous drug users

• the percentage of the various drug-types used by the percentage of the various drug-types used by intravenous drug-users:intravenous drug-users:– Home-made opiates – 16%Home-made opiates – 16%– Heroin – 80% (70% of them use heroin in combination with other Heroin – 80% (70% of them use heroin in combination with other

drugs)drugs)– Amphetamine derivatives - 52% (mostly in combination)Amphetamine derivatives - 52% (mostly in combination)– Other - 76% (cocaine, trancvilisators, barbiturates – 58%) Other - 76% (cocaine, trancvilisators, barbiturates – 58%)

• Most affected – Russian speaking youth below 30 y.Most affected – Russian speaking youth below 30 y. o. in largest cities – Riga and nearest urban area, o. in largest cities – Riga and nearest urban area, Daugavpils, VentspilsDaugavpils, Ventspils

• Harm reduction programmes – needle exchange and Harm reduction programmes – needle exchange and methadonemethadone

COOPERATIONCOOPERATION

• Building up relationships:Building up relationships:– Local, regional, worldwideLocal, regional, worldwide– Formal and informalFormal and informal– Institutional and personalInstitutional and personal

• Building up confidenceBuilding up confidence– Getting know others – getting know ourselvesGetting know others – getting know ourselves– ICL – Intercultural learning ICL – Intercultural learning – Bettering life – remaining difficulties – Bettering life – remaining difficulties –

broadened abilities to recognise and overcomebroadened abilities to recognise and overcome

COOPERATIONCOOPERATION

all different – all equalall different – all equal• Differences and similarities of neighbourDifferences and similarities of neighbourss

– life experiences, cultural backgroundslife experiences, cultural backgrounds– problems and challenges problems and challenges – encouragements, approachesencouragements, approaches, solutions, , solutions,

resultsresults– goals, aims and dreamsgoals, aims and dreams

• It’s all about people...It’s all about people...– Learning from each otherLearning from each other– Giving and receiving support, encouragementGiving and receiving support, encouragement

CONTACT CONTACT INFORMATIONINFORMATION

For further information please For further information please contact: contact: dia_logs_centrs_riga@hotmail.codia_logs_centrs_riga@hotmail.com m

Ms. Ruta Kaupe Ms. Ruta Kaupe – – Project ManagerProject Manager (+ (+371 941 28 55371 941 28 55))rutins@parks.lvrutins@parks.lv

Ms. Jolanta Cihanovicha Ms. Jolanta Cihanovicha – – Board ChairBoard Chair (+ (+371 925 46 10371 925 46 10))psychologist@inbox.lvpsychologist@inbox.lv

Mr. Emils R. Stalis Mr. Emils R. Stalis – – Board Vice-ChairBoard Vice-Chair ( (+371 948 71 37+371 948 71 37))emils-r.stalis@ikd.lvemils-r.stalis@ikd.lv