|
Biography
Dr. Vavere is born on 17th of March 1965, in capital city of Latvia – Riga. In 1983 he obtains his secondary vocational education and applies for Olaine’s 15th Trade School, where he studies analytic chemistry. In year 1984 he graduates it with Red Diploma and has obtained a 4th category of analytic chemistry technician. In 1984 he joins Riga Medical Institute (RMI) in Medicative faculty and in the fall of 1984 is called into compulsory military service in Armed forces of Soviet Union for two years. Arturs Vavere is sent off to do the military service to city of Chita in Siberia; he is a driver in signal battalion. In 1986 his compulsory military serving is over and Arturs Vavere comes back to Riga and goes on with his studies in RMI. In 1985, additionally to studies he starts to work in Ambulance service, and from 1986 at biology department of Latvian Academy of Medicine (LAM) as technician. Working at department of biology he develops a methodology for micro-preparations of helminth eggs, which is approved by LAM as rationalization work. From 1987 he works at Infectology Centre of Latvia as middle medicine personnel member. Starting with 1989, additionally to work and studies he starts to work at AIDS hotline as a consultant, where he works for 5 years till 1994. In 1989 he gets married and in the spring of 1990 his first child is born – daughter Agnese. After year and a half, another increase of family takes place – his second child son Robert is born (1991). In 1993 he finishes studies in Latvian Academy of Medicine where he gets a doctors degree. From 1993 till 1996 he continues his studies in LAM in post graduate faculty to become an infectologist. Then he continues working at Infectology Centre of Latvia in AIDS ambulatory department as intern. In 1995 he’s sent to “contagious skin and sexually transmitted diseases” courses. As from 1997 he works as doctor dermato-venereologist. From 2001-2004 continues his studies for higher professional education, studying sexology and transology. From year 2000 he runs Institute of Men’s Sexual Health and works as doctor-sexologist. Additionally to studies and work Dr. Vavere is active at participation in different social organizations, has been a head of many projects which mostly have been financed by international organizations (Soros Fund, UNDP, UNAIDS, WHO, UNICEF, EU, etc.) From 1997 Dr. Vavere becomes a head of civic organization “Latvian Association for safe sex”. With support of EU he first in Latvia starts free testing for HIV/AIDS. From 1997 to 1999 he discovers more than 50% of infection cases with HIV in country diagnosed. In 1998 he opens first 24 hour station for exchange of hypodermic needles for intravenous drugs users. In 1998, with a help of Soros Fund he opens AIDS portal in internet (www.aids.lv) which is still working currently and at which there are available information about HIV/AIDS as well as 24 hour consultations online. With support of UNAIDS Dr. Vavere (1997, 1998) was first who, started off an anonymous HIV testing in groups of increased risk of infection (prostitutes, homosexuals), to gather information about epidemiological situation in Latvia. Results are published in reports of UNDP about development of Latvia and also used as basis for different scientific publications. Since year 1998 Dr. Arturs has turned his attention to issues of men sexual equality in Latvia. There is studied one of the most hidden kinds of prostitution about which society in Latvia doesn’t want to talk - men prostitution. Results of gathered works and information are published: “trafficking in women and prostitution in the Baltic States: social and legal aspects” (IOM, 2001). Studying the lack of information amongst teenagers (young men), in 1998 he writes a booklet for teenagers “Man at puberty age”, which is published with a help of Latvian family planning and sexual health association “Papardes zieds” and UNICEF. In same year he takes part in development of material about sexual health of boys and there are published booklet “A man”. In 1999 he actively takes part in a common project of UNICEF and Ministry of Welfare of Latvia about issues of sexual equality in Latvia. Since 2000 he’s a head of Institute of Men Sexual Health, where the biggest attention is turned to men’s sexual health improvement and maintenance, various social-economic, social-hygiene and psycho-emotional issues, which have influence on men sexual health. Last 5 years Dr. Vavere works on: Dr. Vavere is a certified in Latvia doctor sexologist and hypno-therapist, one of the most well known and published sexologists in Latvia, a member of the board of Latvian professional association of doctors “Latvian Union of Sexologoists”, a member of different international societies, consultant in questions about men trafficking and prostitution, an author of many booklets, articles and publications. |