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HEARING IMPAIRED STUDENTS IN ARMENIA LEARN ABOUT HIV & SEXUAL HEALTH FOR THE FIRST TIME
Reuters
May 13 2010
UK
Father Esau, friend and supporter of deaf children in Armenia,
engaged World Vision to educate them on safe sexual behaviour &
HIV prevention. Photo by World Vision staff.
World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org Deaf children or
children with hearing impairments in Armenia seldom receive information
on sexual health, leaving them even more vulnerable to HIV, other
sexually transmitted infections (STI) and early pregnancy. Training
sessions conducted by World Vision health specialists are striving
to change that and the students themselves have been overwhelmingly
receptive.
High school students in Armenia's only School for the Deaf located
in the capital Yerevan, participated in the training on safe sexual
behaviour, including HIV prevention, through the Armenian Apostolic
Church representative who engaged World Vision health specialists
and school administration.
Starting at the very basics because of the students' lack of knowledge
in this area, the sessions addressed the human anatomy and physiology
of reproductive organs. From the very first students openly asked
questions as they have never before had the opportunity to receive
informed answers.
'These children are already grown-ups; soon they will graduate from
school and will probably start thinking of getting married and having
their own family. Before these training sessions they had the most
naïve and immature idea about sexual life and its possible threats',
said Zubeyda Melkonyan, a teacher of the Armenian sign language at
the school.
Lack of access to any kind of information and unpreparedness of the
teachers and parents to give the children all the necessary knowledge
on sexual education makes them particularly vulnerable to many STIs
including HIV.
'Deaf children or children with impaired hearing in Armenia are
literally deprived of any chance to be educated on such important
topics as sexual education, and I am glad they could find answers
among health specialists who gave them the most clear and appropriate
answers', said Father Esau, the priest of Saint Trinity Church
in Yerevan.
Father Esau has been trained and sensitised about HIV & AIDS through
World Vision's Channels of Hope programme and is involved in a number
of initiatives that respond to the spread of HIV in the country as
well as to prevent HIV-related stigma and discrimination. Having
learnt Armenian sign language, Father Esau has also become a good
friend for the students of the School for Deaf; he conducts Bible
Study classes at the school and tries to address their challenges.
When World Vision specialists were invited to conduct the session,
they first undertook extensive preparatory work with the interpreter,
so that they would effectively communicate to her and she to the
students, since it is often difficult to convey different ideas and
terminology through sign language.
The interpreter Zubeyda Melkonyan is concerned that having educated the
children they also need to pass the same education to their teachers,
school nurse and younger children as well.
'We intend to continue our engagement at school and have a qualified
teacher there who would conduct continuous education on the topic',
says Viktorya Sargsyan, Faith Partnerships/Channels of Hope Specialist
for World Vision in the Middle East, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
region.
Currently between 3,500 to 4,000 deaf people live in Armenia, and
the School for the Deaf hosts some 200 children.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and
not of Reuters. ]
Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this
article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are
the author's alone.
Reuters
May 13 2010
UK
Father Esau, friend and supporter of deaf children in Armenia,
engaged World Vision to educate them on safe sexual behaviour &
HIV prevention. Photo by World Vision staff.
World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org Deaf children or
children with hearing impairments in Armenia seldom receive information
on sexual health, leaving them even more vulnerable to HIV, other
sexually transmitted infections (STI) and early pregnancy. Training
sessions conducted by World Vision health specialists are striving
to change that and the students themselves have been overwhelmingly
receptive.
High school students in Armenia's only School for the Deaf located
in the capital Yerevan, participated in the training on safe sexual
behaviour, including HIV prevention, through the Armenian Apostolic
Church representative who engaged World Vision health specialists
and school administration.
Starting at the very basics because of the students' lack of knowledge
in this area, the sessions addressed the human anatomy and physiology
of reproductive organs. From the very first students openly asked
questions as they have never before had the opportunity to receive
informed answers.
'These children are already grown-ups; soon they will graduate from
school and will probably start thinking of getting married and having
their own family. Before these training sessions they had the most
naïve and immature idea about sexual life and its possible threats',
said Zubeyda Melkonyan, a teacher of the Armenian sign language at
the school.
Lack of access to any kind of information and unpreparedness of the
teachers and parents to give the children all the necessary knowledge
on sexual education makes them particularly vulnerable to many STIs
including HIV.
'Deaf children or children with impaired hearing in Armenia are
literally deprived of any chance to be educated on such important
topics as sexual education, and I am glad they could find answers
among health specialists who gave them the most clear and appropriate
answers', said Father Esau, the priest of Saint Trinity Church
in Yerevan.
Father Esau has been trained and sensitised about HIV & AIDS through
World Vision's Channels of Hope programme and is involved in a number
of initiatives that respond to the spread of HIV in the country as
well as to prevent HIV-related stigma and discrimination. Having
learnt Armenian sign language, Father Esau has also become a good
friend for the students of the School for Deaf; he conducts Bible
Study classes at the school and tries to address their challenges.
When World Vision specialists were invited to conduct the session,
they first undertook extensive preparatory work with the interpreter,
so that they would effectively communicate to her and she to the
students, since it is often difficult to convey different ideas and
terminology through sign language.
The interpreter Zubeyda Melkonyan is concerned that having educated the
children they also need to pass the same education to their teachers,
school nurse and younger children as well.
'We intend to continue our engagement at school and have a qualified
teacher there who would conduct continuous education on the topic',
says Viktorya Sargsyan, Faith Partnerships/Channels of Hope Specialist
for World Vision in the Middle East, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
region.
Currently between 3,500 to 4,000 deaf people live in Armenia, and
the School for the Deaf hosts some 200 children.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and
not of Reuters. ]
Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this
article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are
the author's alone.