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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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Questionnaires are issued <strong>and</strong> there is also a suggestion box <strong>for</strong> feedback while feedback<br />

is also received from both current <strong>and</strong> <strong>for</strong>mer clients who have been send<strong>in</strong>g referrals <strong>to</strong><br />

the organization. From this feedback it was learnt that the cl<strong>in</strong>ic is said <strong>to</strong> be accessible<br />

<strong>and</strong> clients are also satisfied with the level of confidentiality exercised by the staff <strong>and</strong><br />

there are those who would prefer <strong>to</strong> have test<strong>in</strong>g related sexual health services provided<br />

on site.<br />

Faith Based Organizations (FBO)<br />

Pentecostal Church<br />

The Pentecostal Church has been cater<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong> the physical <strong>and</strong> spiritual needs of the<br />

<strong>Antigua</strong> community with its ma<strong>in</strong> branch located <strong>in</strong> the Woods area just outside of St.<br />

John’s city. The offices may be accessed Monday through Friday between the hours of<br />

8:00am <strong>and</strong> 4:30pm.<br />

This church organization has staff <strong>and</strong> members who are tra<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>to</strong> deal with vulnerable<br />

populations. This tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g equips some members <strong>and</strong> staff <strong>to</strong> deal with women, youth<br />

<strong>and</strong> children <strong>and</strong> even the migrant population <strong>and</strong> commercial sex workers <strong>and</strong> tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />

has also been had <strong>in</strong> diversity <strong>and</strong> cultural competence. Though the staff has not received<br />

<strong>for</strong>mal <strong>HIV</strong>&AIDS tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> there is noth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> place <strong>to</strong> make this service available <strong>in</strong><br />

the <strong>for</strong>eseeable future, prevention education <strong>and</strong> support is offered as far as this<br />

population is concerned.<br />

Though referrals don’t come from a particular group approximately 20 clients are seen on<br />

a monthly basis <strong>for</strong> social support but on Sundays there are quite a significant number of<br />

visi<strong>to</strong>rs <strong>to</strong> the regularly scheduled services with a rate of approximately 75% repeat<br />

visi<strong>to</strong>rs. About 4% of the staff is from the target population of MSM or CSW. Visi<strong>to</strong>rs<br />

tend <strong>to</strong> frequent the church though they are required <strong>to</strong> give names or other identify<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong><strong>for</strong>mation. The staff <strong>and</strong> members tend not <strong>to</strong> discrim<strong>in</strong>ate <strong>and</strong> stigmatize <strong>in</strong>dividuals,<br />

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