Sustainability in the real world is created by real people

Make the most of your efforts and mobilize all your strength to ensure continuity of services and ARV therapy for people living with HIV and for key populations. It is uniquely in the power of each of us to minimize the negative consequences of COVID-19. This requires a balanced approach, the ability to be flexible and willing to change.
Zhenya Mayilyan Chairlady, NGO "Real World, Real People"

Task

During the coronavirus pandemic, the key task for us was to ensure the continuity of treatment for people living with HIV, both in Armenia and abroad. At the same time, our work should be focused on providing access to free syringes and alcohol wipes for injecting drug users, ensuring the prevention of HIV infection and reducing the risk of coronavirus infection. It was also important to ensure that key populations and people living with HIV were informed of the necessary preventive measures in the context of protection against coronavirus.

These are the tasks faced by the NGO “Real World, Real People” team as an organization implementing programs on “Care and Support for PLHIV” and “HIV Prevention among IDUs” in Armenia.

Solution

Proactive work of social workers. We took control of the situation and took the initiative: our social workers, peer counselors contacted the beneficiaries of services to clarify the supply of ARVs and provide information on the necessary preventive measures to protect against coronavirus.

Hotline is a strategic communication platform. In March-April, more than 850 calls were registered on the organization’s hotline, and our team switched to an every day work schedule, without days off.

The organization’s employees and outreach workers (about 38 people in total) were provided with personal protective equipment.

Provide support to people in OST programs. The employees of ‘Real World, Real People’ decided to help raise and provide funds for two months of methadone therapy to people who became insolvent due to COVID-19 and the state of emergency, but who received methadone replacement therapy for a fee.

Result

In March-April 2020, ARVs were received and delivered to the home for 963 people, of which 798 were in Armenia and 165 outside the country. Citizens residing outside Armenia were sent to regional partner organizations to receive ARVs. About 80 people were provided with food and prevention supplies. During the state of emergency, free syringes and alcohol wipes were available for IDUs throughout Armenia.

None of the organization’s employees or outpatients were infected with the coronavirus. A two-month payment of methadone therapy was provided for individuals who became insolvent due to COVID-19.