On August 9-10, we conducted the second study visit to Riga (Latvia).
On August 9-10, we conducted the second study visit to Riga (Latvia) within the project “Exchange best practices and experiences working with refugees in the Baltics,” supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers’ Office in Estonia.
The project’s goal is to increase the ability to answer the needs of refugees affected by socially valuable diseases and build organizations’ advocacy capacity through study visits in Estonia, Latvia, and Finland.
We met in the LGBT house in Riga (3 representatives of EHPV (Tallinn, Estonia), 2 of Positiviset ry (Helsinki, Finland), and 4 of AGIHAS (Riga, Latvia)).
On the first study visit day, Andris Veikenieks, AGIHAS Chairman of the Board, with colleagues presented their activities. Special attention they paid to the branch of work with refugees. AGIHAS adherence consultants Ivars Līdaciņš and Māra Veselova shared their experience working with refugees online.
The next day we conducted a mini-conference to discuss and share experiences working with refugees in our countries.
1. Alla Zakharchuk from EHPV talked about EHPV change management to cover the needs of refugees.
2. Anni Mattinen from Positiviset ry discussed the theme “Refugees and potential human trafficking risks” based on Finland’s experiences.
3. Tappu Valkonen from Positiviset ry demonstrated Finland’s service structure for refugees, including HIV-positive refugees.
4. Yuliya Raskevich from EHPV showed practical tools to reach refugees with sensitive information.
Invited experts from Latvia joined the conference. First, Ilana Germanenko, psychiatrist and scientist, presented the discourse “Traumatic imprints of the society receiving war refugees.” Next, Kristīne Garina, President and Board Member of the European Pride Organizers Association, discussed barriers to providing medical social services for LGBT refugees. Finally, Agita Sēja from AGIHAS and Dia Logs talked about barriers to needed medical social services for refugees – intravenous drug and methadone users.
At the end of the meeting, Yuliya Raskevich and Latsin Alijev, EHPV Chairman of the board, presented the idea of creating the Baltic hub. It will be a coordination center providing services and support to refugees from Ukraine (HIV+, LGBT) and other vulnerable groups that will unite the efforts of our organizations working with refugees affected by socially valuable diseases.
During the last study visit to Positiviset ry (Helsinki, Finland), we will learn about Positiviset ry activities and their experience working with refugees and continue to discuss our future cooperation.