Medical workers are being trained

The series of training sessions for healthcare workers has been completed. A total of 150 healthcare professionals were trained.

These trainings were implemented by the Disaster Risk Reduction National Platform (ARNAP) Foundation in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Armenia Country Office, within the framework of the program “Capacity building on the provision of medical care and trauma-informed counselling for women survivors of sexual violence”.

Two types of training sessions were successfully organized and delivered.

The first was a two-day training on “Principles of Organizing and Providing Medical Care to Survivors of Sexual Violence”, designed for healthcare professionals.
In total, 3 two-day trainings were conducted, through which around 60 healthcare workers (obstetricians-gynecologists and nurses) from various medical institutions in Yerevan, Ararat, Syunik, and Vayots Dzor regions were trained.

The trainings aimed to improve skills in organizing medical care in cases of sexual violence, providing trauma-sensitive counseling, and ensuring respectful communication with patients. They were designed to strengthen the capacities of healthcare workers to deliver more quality, inclusive, and patient-centered healthcare services.

During the two-day training program, participants were engaged in both theoretical and practical sessions.

The trainings covered the following key topics:

• Legal definitions and frameworks related to sexual violence cases,
• Fundamentals of the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for health interventions,
• Procedures for admitting and organizing medical care for survivors of sexual violence,
• Principles of clinical management, from documentation to medical intervention,
• Myths and stereotypes about violence in the healthcare sector,
• Key aspects of psychological first aid, including a practical exercise titled “Dignity Kit,”
• Discussion of the characteristics of psychological trauma,
• Practical exercises on identifying signs of trauma,
• Methods for mental health assessment and psychosocial support.
• A role-play exercise was conducted, allowing participants to practice patient interaction skills in real-life scenarios.

The training concluded with Q&A sessions, discussions, and participant evaluations.

The second training focused on “Trauma-Informed Psychological Communication Skills and Prevention of Burnout”. It was conducted in Yerevan, Kapan, Goris, Yeghegnadzor, and Artashat. A total of 6 trainings were organized, involving 90 participants.

These trainings have been submitted to the National Institute of Health, and participating healthcare workers will be awarded Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits, which will be calculated in accordance with established procedures and recorded in their professional development logs.

This initiative represents an important step toward improving reproductive health services, raising awareness among healthcare professionals, and integrating trauma-informed approaches, ultimately contributing to building trust.