Medipol draws attention to the fight against HIV

The symposium titled “Knowledge is Power: Awareness in the Fight Against HIV” organized by Istanbul Medipol University School of Health Sciences was held at the South Campus Conference Hall. Led by the Department of Midwifery and organized in collaboration with the Turkish Family Health and Planning Foundation (TAPV), the event drew attention to HIV awareness and the fight against it.

DR. KOCATÜRK: RAISING AWARENESS IS VERY IMPORTANT
Delivering the opening speech of the symposium, Dr. Asiye Kocatürk, Head of the Department of Midwifery at the School of Health Sciences of Istanbul Medipol University, talked about the difficulties experienced when HIV was first identified and the experiences of healthcare professionals during this process. Dr. Kocatürk stated: “Unfortunately, HIV-positive individuals face stigmatization problems. Raising awareness is very important in this fight. It is now possible for even HIV-positive mothers to have healthy births without transmitting the virus to their babies. However, false beliefs and insufficient information make the fight difficult.” Op. Dr. Nurcan Armağan explained in detail the transmission routes and protection methods of HIV and emphasized the importance of measures to be taken against sexually transmitted diseases. Dr. Armağan emphasized that early diagnosis and treatment increase the quality of life of patients.

ŞİMŞEK: STIGMA MAKES THE STRUGGLE DIFFICULT
Çiğdem Şimsek, Chair of the Board of Directors at the Pozitif-iz Association, drew attention to the discrimination and stigmatization experienced by HIV-positive individuals. Şimşek said: “Stigmatization causes individuals to become isolated and distance themselves from treatment. However, with the right information, we can make great progress in this fight.” Lecturer Emine Avcu also provided information about the Reproductive Health Peer Polyclinic model they developed for university students. Lecturer Avcu stated that they aim to contribute to public health by creating a platform where students can safely share their health problems. Lecturer Avcu said: “This project aims to create a platform where young people can share their private health-related issues without hesitation. As a team, we provide reliable information and free consultancy together with volunteer students.” Within the scope of TAPV, Social Service Specialist and Project Coordinator Ayşe Tek and Sexual Health Trainer Nurşen Kanbur also shared their experiences on HIV and sexual health education.