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Access to HIV Services for Mobile and Migrant Populations in Antigua

Access to HIV Services for Mobile and Migrant Populations in Antigua

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At least 60% of the populations reached are MSM’s <strong>and</strong> CSW’s <strong>and</strong> a lot of clients are<br />

repeats. They complete the agency on their confidentiality, ease of access <strong>to</strong> services,<br />

good cus<strong>to</strong>mer service <strong>and</strong> lack of stigma <strong>and</strong> discrim<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>and</strong> support.<br />

Client referrals are mostly made <strong>to</strong> the NAP, Social Welfare division, Cl<strong>in</strong>ical Care<br />

Coord<strong>in</strong>a<strong>to</strong>r <strong>and</strong> <strong>Antigua</strong> Family Plann<strong>in</strong>g Association.<br />

<strong>Antigua</strong> & Barbuda <strong>HIV</strong> <strong>and</strong> AIDS Network (ABHAN)<br />

Holber<strong>to</strong>n Hospital Compound<br />

The <strong>Antigua</strong> <strong>and</strong> Barbuda <strong>HIV</strong>/AIDS Network (ABHAN) was founded <strong>in</strong> 2007 <strong>and</strong> is an<br />

organization dedicated <strong>to</strong> educat<strong>in</strong>g, empower<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> advocat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>for</strong> <strong>in</strong>dividuals <strong>in</strong>fected<br />

<strong>and</strong> affected by <strong>HIV</strong> <strong>and</strong> AIDS.<br />

Their prevention programme focuses on reduc<strong>in</strong>g the number of <strong>in</strong>dividuals <strong>in</strong>fected with<br />

<strong>HIV</strong> especially target<strong>in</strong>g the sexual <strong>and</strong> reproductive health of the most vulnerable groups<br />

<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g women <strong>and</strong> youth.<br />

Some of the services provided <strong>in</strong>clude distribution of home based care kits (HBC kits),<br />

delivery of cooked meals, distribution of food packages, weekly counsell<strong>in</strong>g sessions <strong>for</strong><br />

members <strong>and</strong> their families, donation of cook<strong>in</strong>g gas <strong>and</strong> distribution of condoms.<br />

ABHAN has also teamed up with the American University of <strong>Antigua</strong> (AUA) <strong>to</strong> <strong>for</strong>m an<br />

<strong>HIV</strong> <strong>and</strong> AIDS Peer/Buddy Treatment Adherence Programme (PBTAP). The goals of<br />

this programme are <strong>to</strong> recruit <strong>and</strong> reta<strong>in</strong> patients <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> treatment <strong>and</strong> care <strong>and</strong> ensure that<br />

they adhere <strong>to</strong> their treatment <strong>and</strong> <strong>to</strong> deliver a comprehensive package of services<br />

<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g case management lead<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> decreased risky sexual behaviour, improved<br />

immune system function<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> general health improvements. They also conduct peer<br />

tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g three or four times per year <strong>and</strong> that covers <strong>to</strong>pics like stigma <strong>and</strong> discrim<strong>in</strong>ation,<br />

ART’s <strong>and</strong> opportunistic <strong>in</strong>fections, human rights <strong>and</strong> confidentiality issues, techniques<br />

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