LILA’s activity spans a wide range of thematic areas. Its local units do not cover the entire range of activities; they invest their energies and resources in those areas in which they have acquired good competence and experience. The local units with specific expertise in the different areas cooperate as a network to implement improved intervention procedures and exchange best practices.
Health Care
Our mission on this subject has not changed. We advocate the empowerment of PLHIV, claiming their right to play an active role in the scientific debate, as far as both conventional and complementary therapies are concerned. As clinical research progresses, LILA is facing new challenges and broader issues, such as the quality of life of people receiving HIV treatment, HIV infection and gender differences, adherence to treatment, co-infections with other viruses.
Research
LILA promotes and participates in psychosocial research in Italy, and it has carried out many research projects over the years.
LILA is a member of the Italian Community Advisory Board (I-CAB), whose mission is to safeguard research ethics, to defend the right to information and free choice of people recruited for clinical trials, and to promote the direct involvement of patients in the evaluation and development of the trials.
LILA representatives are members of local ethical committees as well as of different scientific advisory boards.
LILA is member of the Italian Conference on AIDS and Retrovirus (ICAR) Community Liaison Subcommittee.
Prevention
The Prevention Area encompasses several activities, all coordinated by our national coordination team in order to provide consistency to the Federation’s overall intervention principles.
Training courses on HIV prevention
LILA’s training courses focus not only on providing clear and scientifically accurate information, but also on highlighting and correcting any preconception on HIV/ AIDS. The condition of being HIV positive is discussed in every aspect, from its medical and psychological implications to the defence of human and civil rights.
Meetings and projects in schools and youth centres
These projects can be structured very differently in terms of timing and methodologies, such as the peer-education approach or the use of other pedagogical tools that stimulate active participation.
Production and distribution of information material
Awareness on HIV prevention can be conveyed through several kinds of media and information materials – brochures, leaflets and posters, videos, radio, television and movie theatre ads, LILA websites, the Internet.
Since 1987, LILA has developed and launched a series of campaigns aimed to raise public awareness on HIV and to promote health education on this topic. We carry out specific initiatives in cooperation with local public and private social services, providing correct information to the different population groups.
Drug Policy
LILA’s drug policy adheres to the principles ofharm reduction. This approach aims to protect the overall physical, psychological and relational conditions of drug users by setting specific, short-term and long-term goals - from the attainment of an acceptable inner balance to the hopefully complete recovery from addiction through a gradual modification of risky behaviours. The nature of the pathologies involved suggests – or, in some cases, requires - the adoption of public health measures such as substitution treatment (methadone), drop-in centres or drug consumption rooms, like safe injection sites also known as shooting rooms.
Self-Help Groups
Groups of PLHIV sharing the need for deeper confrontation on specific HIV related issues meet regularly at our local units. This service is meant to provide support and information ranging from treatment and care to psychological/ emotional mutual support.
Helplines and face-to-face counselling
LILA can count on a network of help lines managed by volunteers and professionals of our local units. LILA’s approach adheres to the following ethical principles: offering non-judgemental, non-directive and personally targeted support; guaranteeing the anonymity of the caller and ensuring that any information shared remain confidential; promoting the caller’s self-esteem and respect his/her personal beliefs. Data concerning this activity are collected and available on our annual report.
