Enhancing Sexual Health & Harm Reduction for Better Patient Care 3rd Edition | 2023

Marsa organized its third annual Sexual Health and Harm Reduction Workshop in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Saint Joseph (USJ) from 22nd to 25th November 2023.

Similar to previous annual workshops, the aim is to equip healthcare providers with the knowledge and skills they need to provide comprehensive patient care. The Workshop was held at the Sports and Innovation campus at the University of Saint-Joseph and more than 40 healthcare providers from all over Lebanon attended, including midwives, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, and social workers in health-related fields. Six more participants from Jordan attended the workshop virtually. 

The three-and-a-half-day workshop is an extensive course detailing a number of key sexual health and harm reduction topics that are necessary for healthcare providers, to build and/or enhance their knowledge and skills in order to provide inclusive care for their patients.

Workshop Objectives

Among the learning objectives of the workshop, participants will explore:

• The most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including their type, mode of transmission, symptoms, and treatment.

• Different methods of prevention, clinical and para-clinical exams, treatments, and indications for referral for common sexually transmitted infections.

• Various concepts of harm reduction and patient education. HIV Patient Care, including recommendations on screening, referral, and treatment of individuals living with HIV.

• Key concepts within sexual health and effective communication.

• Stigma in healthcare settings and the role of healthcare providers in educating patients.

• Provision of sexual health services to populations most vulnerable to stigma.

• Common reproductive disorders.

• The importance of mental health in sexual health and wellbeing.