Community in Action: Amos Tara holds CBS Training in Palawan

written by Lans Caputilla

AMOS TARA Community Center organized a three-day Community-based Screening (CBS) Training among its volunteers from August 11 to 13 at Astoria Resort in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

"It is alarming to witness an increase in the number of new cases of HIV infections in Puerto Princesa City [and Palawan], and one way to curb down the spread of HIV is to mobilize more trained volunteers who will help our community-based organizations reach out the key affected 0opulation [in the area]," said Dixy Portuguesa, Amos Tara Community Center Manager.

Portuguesa elaborates how the training is aimed to entice more trained volunteers to cater to the young key populations in the city. The manager also pointed that there is an alarming increase in reactive cases in the recent months.

Topics discussed includes: HIV & STI 101, Introduction to CBS, CBS Motivational Dialogue and Practices, CBS Safety, Finger Pricking & Interpretation, Consolidation of the Steps in CBS-Workflow Process.

Ten (10) participants who came from different parts of the city and province participated in the said training. To date, Amos Tara Community Center has a roster of 16 CBS Motivators.

The three-day training was endorsed by the Department of Health, and organized in collaboration with Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. and LoveYourself, Inc.