[:en]Arcigay's experience over the years has highlighted how, on the one hand, there is a strong heterogeneity in the public provision of services for the promotion of sexual health and the prevention of STIs and HIV across Italy, and on the other, how the most complex, innovative and effective prevention strategies are poorly supported, as is the role of associations fighting HIV, often operating in de facto horizontal subsidiarity with respect to the National Health Service (for example, with rapid testing programmes).
To address this evidence, Arcigay recently decided to strengthen its ability to address institutional dynamics, particularly those within the organization of services, that limit, facilitate, or hinder the implementation of innovative and more effective programs for sexual health promotion and STI and HIV prevention.
In particular, two projects have been launched for this purpose: the "Advocacy: training of Arcigay leaders and other organizations for the fight against HIV on health advocacy and the project" and the "Mapping the state of services in the field of sexual health and HIV management" project. Both projects are underway and have received the unconditional support of ViiV Healthcare.
Capacity-building in institutional advocacy
The project “Advocacy: Training for Arcigay leaders and other HIV organizations on health advocacy and the project”, funded at the end of 2020, began in late 2021 due to several postponements caused by the pandemic. This capacity-building project is currently underway and benefits from the collaboration and consultancy of Cergas-Bocconi. The project consists of four phases:
- Assessment of advocacy and lobbying activities on HIV and STI policies (desk research and interviews);
- Training course on the institutional structures of the NHS (online);
- Workshop on innovative methods of advocacy and lobbying (in person);
- Focus groups with key stakeholders at the national, regional, and corporate levels of the NHS.
Activists and leaders from Arcigay and HIV organizations are expected to participate. Training activities will begin in March 2022.
The project is scheduled for completion in June 2022.
Mapping and Monitoring of Health Services
The project “Mapping the State of Sexual Health and HIV Services”, funded at the end of 2021, began in January 2022.
The project's goal is to provide Arcigay's health network, and the Arcigay committees in provincial capitals in general, with the knowledge and tools needed to manage informed and appropriate referrals locally, and ultimately nationally, in the area of sexual health and support for people with HIV, as well as to build public-private partnerships with a community-based approach.
A mapping and monitoring activity is therefore planned for the provision of various services related to sexual health and STI/HIV prevention and treatment by the National Health Service facilities in 50 provincial capitals.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.[:]
