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Abstract
Community interventions to assist homeless families affected by HIV
N Papadopoulos1, P Vyras1, K Serafeimidou2, M Melissurgaki2, G Tremoulis2, M Bunialetos2, E Chatsidi2, D Peios2, N Xirouhakis2
1ELPIDA, Athens, Greece; 2Venizeleion Hospital, Herakleion, Greece
Issues: Unemployment due to HIV can be frequent, especially in big cities. Therefore, patients and their families may easily become homeless - particularly if they have no other source of income. A model which combines material and psychological support from the community in order to assist in such cases was developed in Greece.
Description: A comprehensive program offering assistance for one year to individuals and families in need was undertaken by ELPIDA, a community based agency in Athens, with financial support from the European Union. Aims of the program comprised the following: 1. Temporary housing in community lodgings. 2. Bursaries for sustenance. 3. Home nursing care for the ill. 4. Information and trainings to raise awareness about alternative treatments and self help.
Lessons learned: The projected interventions weres a unique opportunity for this group to find a home and receive community support. 60 persons were housed, trained with basic skills for coping with disease and motivated to become self reliant. The process had a clearly positive impact on their lives and health.
Recommendation: Apart from direct interventions, aimed at responding to immediate material needs (board and lodging), psychological and spiritual resources must be mobilised and can be very effective in producing long term well being.
The XIV International AIDS Conference
Abstract no.
WePeF6612
Suggested Citation
" N Papadopoulos , , et al.
Community interventions to assist homeless families affected by HIV
.
Poster Exhibition:
The XIV International AIDS Conference:
Abstract no.
WePeF6612"
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