The event was held within the framework of the All-Ukrainian campaign «16 Days Against Violence».
The meeting was organised by the Psychological Support Department of DSUIA with the invitation of the head of the Department of Medical Information Systems and Organisational-Methodological Assistance in the information direction of the Communal Enterprise «Dnipropetrovsk Regional Medical Centre for Socially Significant Diseases» of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Council Hanna Lopatenko. First-year cadets of the Faculty of Training Specialists for Criminal Police Units of the National Police of Ukraine took part in the lesson.
Psychologist Daria Artemenko emphasized the importance of awareness about HIV/AIDS in the professional activity of future police officers. She stressed that law enforcement officers often interact with different categories of the population, including high-risk groups, and must have a clear understanding of the routes of infection transmission, personal safety rules and ethical interaction with people living with HIV.
The aim of the lesson was to increase cadets’ awareness about the problem of HIV infection spread, formation of a responsible attitude to their own life and health, as well as formation of a firm position of non-acceptance of any forms of violence.
Hanna Lopatenko told in detail about the routes of HIV transmission, modern methods of prevention, the importance of early testing and availability of antiretroviral therapy. Special attention was paid to myths and stereotypes that often become the cause of stigmatisation of people living with HIV. Cadets had the opportunity to ask questions and receive competent answers from the specialist.
The event was held in interactive form: discussions, analysis of life situations, viewing of thematic materials. Such format allowed cadets to actively join the discussion, realise real risks and possibilities of their prevention, and also form skills of making balanced decisions in situations of increased responsibility.
Head of the Psychological Support Department of DSUIA Serhii Vyshnevskyi noted that the conducted binary lesson became an important step in increasing the level of first-year students’ awareness about the problem of HIV infection spread, formation of a responsible attitude to their own behaviour and affirmation of the principles of respect for human dignity and non-violent interaction.
Such educational initiatives contribute to the creation of a safe educational environment and the upbringing of socially mature, conscious and responsible future law enforcement officers.
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