The Society for AIDS Care

HK-China AIDS Training Program

The Society for AIDS Care (SAC) has commenced the HK-China AIDS Training Program since 2006. It aims to promote good practice in HIV/AIDS care and prevention work. It helps strengthen the cooperation between Hong Kong and China, and to encourage the network formation between Hong Kong and China in fighting against AIDS.

Starting from 2006, different training programs were organized with candidates from Xinjiang, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Henan and Jiangmen. All of the candidates are professionals from the HIV/AIDS field in China working on targeted prevention programs and providing direct care and support for the affected community. The training program commences with 2 weeks placement at the SAC center working side by side with our different service teams. Visits to the Red Ribbon Center, Methadone Clinic, special AIDS treatment unit and drug addiction treatment center are also made. All candidates need to involve in one mass program from planning stage to finish at SAC Center.

For the candidates to achieve a better overview of our work, the program has been designed with special emphasis in both theoretical teaching and practical experience with role plays. The purpose of the role play aims to encourage deeper reflection of the work.

All participants are requested to submit a report highlighting on their experience gained in Hong Kong as well as what aspects they can introduce or enhance their practice in the Mainland. To complete the training program, the candidates will organize a final seminar at their place of work to share and pass on their experience learned.

Feedback

	During the training in Hong Kong, I was most impressed by staff from the SAC center on how they adopt the case need management system and all clients are treated according to their care plan needs. Strict confidentiality policy is applied to both SAC staff and volunteers. The people living with HIV/AIDS and their care-givers can gain much respect in the SAC Centre. This management mode is highly valued and worthy for us to adopt in the Mainland.
Li Xiu Ying from Province of Guangdong

	Staff in SAC Centre gives their heartfelt care and devotion to their members without prejudice. They love their jobs with respect and all workers there show their full support to the people living with HIV/AIDS. Members of the SAC Center never feel being discriminated and can find peace and trust in SAC Centre. I have learnt a lot from this mode of practice. Nowadays, most of the mainland prevention work is led by the government. I would convey this caring mode to the different governmental departments and strive for increased support to the AIDS NGOs in China. The goals are to give better care to those living with HIV/AIDS and to minimize discrimination in China.
Wang Shu Jiang from Xinjiang

	I have learnt a lot about the confidentiality policy which is strictly observed by The Society for AIDS Care. This is very important for us to adhering and implementing these strict rules.
Sun Li from Province of Yunnan

	Both centre-based and outreach services provided by the SAC Centre help relieve the physical and psychological pain of their members. The service makes them feel being respected and cared for. This process of ‘normalization’ for these members helps to gain their own respect so that they are more willing to share with others. It helps them to better prepare themselves for community re-integration in future.
Zhang Jun from Province of Henan

	Drug adherence is the most important aspect for patients on HIV treatment. The SAC home care nurses help remind patients of what time to take the correct pills by keeping the pills in a specially designed pill-boxes marked with coloured labels. This easy and simple adaptation reminds patients to take their pills in a correct and timely manner. It also shows the care given by the nurses.
Bai Shi Ge from Sichuan

	The HIV prevention work in Hong Kong depends on the close collaboration between the government and Non-Government Organizations. The multi-disciplinary team approach between the government and non-government organizations warrants a good reference for us in China.
Liu Yan from Xinjiang