November 17 & 18, 2008. Dharamshala, India:The first ever intensive workshop on HIV/AIDS and its related issues jointly organised by Department of Health, CTA, Dharamshala and CHOICE—HIV/AIDS Initiative was held at the Tibet Charity India, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala. The workshop was funded by the Tibetan Voluntary Health Association and supported and outsourced by the Dept. of Health of the Central Tibetan Administration.

The workshop was attended by 18 community based health care providers from India and Nepal including a doctor from Tibetan Medical & Astrological Instituted, Dharamshala.

The resource persons/speakers for the workshop were Dr. Tenzin Namdul (Director, CHOICE &Clinical Researcher, TMAI), Dr. Yangzom Dolkar (Medical Officer, Delek Hospital), Ms. Tsering Paldong ( Vice-Chairperson, CHOICE & Head, Public Health, Delek Hospital), Mr. Tenzin Lekphel (Director, Kunphen Centre), Mr. Rinchen (Dept. of Health, CTA), Mr. Tenzin Norgay (Researcher, TCHRD), Mr. Lobsang Yeshi (Former Vice President, TYC and an Independent Researcher), and Mr. Phuntsok Chomphel (Project Officer-cum-Health Educator, CHOICE—HIV/AIDS Initiative).

Brief report of the workshop

Day One:  Day One began with an introduction on HIV/AIDS for health care providers wherein we emphasized the importance of conducting such intervention and prevention workshops in Tibetan communities where we are seeing an increasing rate of HIV infection.  The following topics were thoroughly presented, explained and discussed:  HIV/AIDS facts and figures, safe sex practices, HIV testing and counselling, opportunistic infections, drug use and HIV/AIDS and women and HIV/AIDS.  Throughout the day participants had the opportunity to learn about one another, collaborate and discuss topics presented by the seminar leaders.

Day Two: Day Two began with feedback from participants regarding the issues raised during Day One.  This feedback was useful, thoughtful and appreciated by the seminar leaders.  The topics presented on the second day were the following: understanding stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS, human rights in relation to HIV/AIDS, care for HIV/AIDS infected patients, anti-retro viral therapy, ‘positive living’ and pre & post test counselling.  The last seminar of the day was a presentation of a case study— the true life story of an HIV infected couple.  Through presenting this case study we were able to illustrate the kinds of issues, discrimination and challenges that HIV patients face in our Tibetan communities. 

Feed back:  Based on the responses we received via the ‘Training Evaluation Form’ completed by participants, it is evident that all of the respondents welcomed and appreciated the information and training in regards to HIV/AIDS.  Overwhelmingly, participants reported that they felt that the 2-day educational workshop was too short in duration to thoroughly discuss all of the issues raised.  We therefore recommend further training for health care providers. 

Acknowledgements:  We are immensely grateful to the Tibetan Voluntary Health Association for funding the workshop and the Dept. of Health, CTA Dharamshala for outsourcing the workshop to CHOICE.   Our heartfelt thanks also goes out to seminar leaders and the participants who continue to give their time and energies to confront HIV/AIDS in our Tibetan communities.