Address:
Kopli 32, 10412 Tallinn, ESTONIA
phone/fax +372 6413165
e-mail: tugikeskus@hotmail.com
AIDS-i Tugikeskus (AIDS Information and Support Center) is a social non-profit
non-governmental (NGO) organization, which was founded 01.02.1994 as by
group of volunteers in Tallinn, Estonia. For implementation of AIDS service
organization we use the model of Finnish AIDS Tukikeskus (now Finnish AIDS
Council).
AIDS Tugikeskus has a branch in Tartu, which was opened in 1995.
AIDS Tugikeskus in Tallinn have two departments:
Kopli 32, 10412, Tallinn
In those rooms we provide
reception for the general public. Also the project among sex-workers and
project against trafficking in women and girls works here.
Erika 5a, Tallinn
This department was created
for the projects among intravenous drug users - consultations of narcologist-psychologist,
therapist, needle exchange, methadone treatment, two rehabilitation country
houses etc.
Our basic field activity includes:
counseling, pre- and
post testing, AIDS/HIV consulting and consulting about STD-s for public in
general and youth;
possibility of anonymous
HIV/STD testing;
counseling of safer
sex;
provision of literature
of safer sex and warning about HIV/STD (the last examples: leaflet for
parents “How to speak to children about AIDS, sex and drugs” with collaboration
of specialists of state AIDS Prevention Center; the manual for people, living
with HIV/AIDS “Positive Development” - joint with ESPO etc.)
work with target groups:
sex-workers - project SEASTAR 1996-1999, concerning migratory prostitution,
project against trafficking of women and girls in Baltic Sea region (with
co-operation with Kvinnoforum, SWEDEN and Likestilling Centeret, Norway)
and projects for i/v drug users - Needle Exchange Program, Harm Reduction
program among sex workers IDU-s (IHRD); HIV/AIDS Prevention in prisons.
rehabilitation country houses
creation of a gay sensitive
atmosphere and testing/preventory work with gays; work with group of young
gays
psychosocial support
of people, living with HIV/AIDS, co-operation with organization Estonian
HIV-positive People Society - ESPO (rooms for drop-in activities, charity
dinners, medical consultations, medication etc.)
participation in mass
events, concerts, musical festivals, youth events - spreading literature
on safer sex, condoms, leaflets etc.
At the moment in Center are implemented and works following projects
and activities:
Testing and consulting
on HIV/STD and safer sex, treatment of STDs for general public (reception
hours of therapist and venerologist-dermatologist)
Project “Harm reduction
among sex workers IDU-s» started in 2001, financially supported by
International Harm Reduction Development program of Open Society Institute
from New York, USA.
Project “HIV Prevention
in prison”, started in 2001, financially supported by International Harm
Reduction Development program of Open Society Institute from New York, USA.
Methadone maintenance
project, funded by IHRD, started 2003
Methadone treatment project,
self-financing
Two country rehabilitation
houses for ex drug users financially supported by Finnish Embassy and USA
Embassy.
Needle exchange program:
stationary point and mobile unit, project supported by IHRD, Estonian Drug
Prevention Foundation, and local city government.
Project against trafficking
of women and girls STOP II with coordination of Caritas Diocesana Roma
and collaboration with 6 countries, financed by EU, started in December
2001.
Project “Drop in Center
for commercial sex workers” - opened in October 2002; Finnish Embassy and
Dutch Foundation MAMA CASH financially support project.
International project
GAIN (Global AIDS Information Network - 92 countries) - Internet technology
transfer/information exchange project, coordinated by Center for AIDS Intervention
Research (CAIR) of the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, financed
by USA Mental Health Program
Central European University
and Open Society Institute International Fellowship Program - 1 year research
“Prostitution in Baltic States”, starts in March 2002, received by the
head of the center.
Working with self-help
group for gays, collaboration with Estonian HIV-positive People Society (charity
dinners, legal help, consultations of specialist, medical treatment on STDs,
lobbying of interest, charity dinners for HIV-positive people, collection
of donations), organization of parents of drug addicts, youth organization
“Living for Tomorrow”.
Project CHANGE - Integration
of NGOs based in Central and Eastern Europe in the European Mobilization
against HIV/AIDS.
Project “HIV/STD Prevention
Among Commercial sex workers, start in April 2002, supported financially
by Family Health International
Project PPAT-Estonia
- Prevention od Adolescent Trafficking, supported by UNIFEM and coordinated
by International Organization for Adolescent
AIDS Tugikeskus has developed
healthy international relations with other ASO (AIDS Service Organizations),
Finnish AIDS Council in Helsinki, Finland, GENDERS, Latvia, HIV-positive
groups in the Baltic countries, Finland, Sweden, STAKES from Finland, Kvinnoforum
from Sweden. We are the members of EuroCASO, Q-WEB, EATG, ILGA. In
Estonia our partners are Open Estonia Foundation, AIDS Prevention Center.
The Head of AIDS Information & Support Center is Jury Kalikov
The running board of the center include 3 persons, the head of center
Jury Kalikov, social worker and medical nurse Grete Lehtla and doctor,
epidemiologist Nelli Kalikova.
At the time it is more then 20 volunteers and 14 specialists involved
in work in different projects.