OREANDA-NEWS. April 19, 2011. Tata Steel Family Initiatives Foundation has been working on maternal and child health, adolescent reproductive and sexual health and HIV/AIDS since 1950s to enhance the quality of life of people in and around Jamshedpur.

TSFIF believes training is an important aspect of upgrading knowledge and skills for ensuring effective performance. Training can be described as "the acquisition of skills, concepts or attitudes that result in improved performance within the job environment".

With that aim in view a Resource Centre has been set up at TSFIF which provides time to time training on significant topics to members of local NGOs, Government Health Workers, doctors, nurses, paramedics, project and clinic staff and local community people as and when required.

A similar training programme is being organized at Tata Steel Family Initiatives Foundation from 18th April, 2011 to 22nd April, 2011 on HIV/AIDS & Counselling. It was inaugurated by Dr S. Mahapatra, Chief, Medical Indoor Services, Tata Main Hospital, Jamshedpur. It was also attended by Dr Nasreen Jamal, from Child In Need Institute Jharkhand. The week long training will be residential so that in depth knowledge can be imparted to the participants through different types of group activities even after the formal training in the class room set up. The trainees will primarily be people involved in healthcare activities in project areas for sometime now.

Dr S. Mahapatra in his inaugural speech appreciated the initiatives of TSFIF that keeps on upgrading the knowledge of people. Information plays an important part in the wider learning process.  By helping health workers learn, they can play a valuable part in improving the health of a nation.

People  living with HIV/AIDS can live healthy and productive lives when they have  access to information, treatment, care and support. This training can help them  to get access to such type of information. The training will focus on the basic  knowledge of HIV/AIDS, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, care and support,  referrals, nursing, support to meet psychological, spiritual, economic, social  and legal needs. Special emphasis will be on counseling of People Living with  HIV/AIDS.