Irfan Akhtar © Progressio

Irfan Akhtar is HIV and AIDS coordinator and trainer with the HIV and AIDS Progressio-Yemen Programme, based in Sana'a, Yemen. Irfan is from India.

HIV and AIDS has, until recently, been a taboo subject in Yemen. There is little knowledge or experience within the country on which to draw when devising strategies to tackle HIV and AIDS. Shortly after arriving in the country, Irfan sought to get an insight into the reality of HIV and AIDS in Yemen: 'In the course of observation during visits, meetings, interactions with stakeholders and target populations, I realised that the country's apparently low prevalence was due to a lack of systematic data collection or planned surveillance systems. I also realised that there are many vulnerability factors which put people at greater risk of HIV and AIDS.'

Irfan works with six main partner organisations in three districts of Yemen who recognised their need for technical assistance in developing ideas and building capacity to tackle HIV and AIDS. According to Irfan, 'most of the NGOs are very new to the issue of HIV and AIDS and their organisational capacity to implement HIV and AIDS strategies is very limited.'

Irfan's role therefore includes:

• providing and developing resources on HIV and AIDS and organisational management
• conducting awareness raising and capacity building training courses
• promoting networking and linking partners with government agencies, religious leaders and donors
• directly sharing his skills with particular individuals.

'The backbone of any HIV and AIDS programme is community level intervention,' says Irfan, so he also runs 'training of trainers' workshops with people from a wide variety of sectors including truck drivers, fishermen, security personnel, the police, prisoners, religious leaders, health workers, NGO staff, journalists, teachers and representatives from women's groups and youth groups.

The workshops aim to identify and train those who work at the community level within each sector, where they can then transfer their newly gained knowledge and skills through peer education - in particular with vulnerable and high risk behaviour groups.

Irfan tries to ensure the inclusion of women and girls in all partner action plans and activities. 'In the training so far there has been more than 50 per cent participation of women,' he says. 'They were given equal opportunity to express their views and ideas. I set up a quiz competition dividing women and men into separate groups and asking questions related to gender and rights. This led to a lot of discussion, debate and dialogue between the men's and women's groups. It is worth mentioning that the women's group won the quiz competition - which was judged by one of the religious leaders - due to their effective participation, debate, discussion and rational justification on the issue of HIV and AIDS. Considering their participation I only can say about Yemeni women: Face covered but mind open to debate on HIV/AIDS.'

DW Irfan's future plans include running HIV and AIDS sensitisation trainings for journalists, media staff and local religious leaders (including Imams) where he hopes to illustrate how religious teachings can be used to help combat the spread of HIV and AIDS and reduce the stigma associated with the disease.

'Day to day life in Yemen is guided by religion and the faith-based leaders have considerable influence with local people,' says Irfan. 'I am finding that it is an added advantage that I myself am a Muslim. I am aware of cultural senstivities and am well accepted by all partner NGOs and the community. The faith-based NGOs are especially happy that I am a Muslim, because I pray with them, eat with them and work with them on HIV and AIDS.

'What's more, I never knew that I would be liked so much here because my face reminds people of an Indian actor who is very popular in Yemen!

'My placement as HIV and AIDS Coordinator in Yemen was exciting for me because the community setting, work culture and infrastructure is completely different from my previous work setting in India. So it is a great opportunity for me to transfer my skills and learning and also gain new kinds of experience. Joining Progressio has so far been a wonderful experience.'

Irfan is originally from India where he completed an MA in Social Work before working for CARE-India for over 6 years starting as a Field Officer, then as a Counsellor and finally as the NGO Coordinator & Capacity Building Officer.

The HIV and AIDS programme in Yemen that Irfan Akhtar is placed with is generously supported by Irish Aid (formerly known as DCI).