Community-based organizations and social enterprises led by key populations have significant advantages in their capacity to reach, recruit, and support those most-at-risk of HIV. Last month, a series of 5 training workshops were successfully organized to reinforce understanding and practice of work ethics and code of conduct among community outreach workers delivered by Dr Nguyen Thanh Liem and Dr Nguyen Tan Thu. The participants were guided through the core characteristics of professionalism, work ethics and code of conduct to understand the morals and core values of their work as well as the significance of complying with procedures, respecting regulations, exercising their rights and affirming their clients’ rights. In addition, all participants took the opportunities to identify, list out and endorse the most significant traits of work ethics, prominent terms of rights for an OW and a client as well as essential qualifications of a community worker to revise existing documents and consent for consistent practice and compliance. The finalized content has been materialized into thoughtful designs of posters for DOME/CBO interior décor so that they are visible to all visitors including staff, collaborators, clients and associates for reference and practice. These posters are being disseminated to all community organizations supported by LADDERS. These reminders are a meaningful tool for OWs to relate and find their part in them. These reference tools play a significant part in improving the quality of services and enhancing the client experience. 

The code of conduct and work ethics are essential qualifications that all CBO staff should master and practice on a daily basis. These practices, particularly among vulnerable populations, aim to protect the trust and confidentiality of clients as well as strengthen the reputation of the participating CBOs. These capacities for community outreach workers are parts of USAID’s commitment to investing in sustainable and responsible systems that can provide good quality services that are respectful and reputable.

Figure 2. The poster speaks precisely and comprehensively of prominent rights of both client and community outreach worker in the hope that all parties strictly comply to maximize the service quality and impact.