Promoting VCT at Westpac and PNG Ports Corporation… the BAHA VCCT Campaign Story: Barrow Kirupana
Promoting participation in voluntary HIV testing is part of every BAHA approved policy. This month some of our members have joined us in promoting voluntary counselling and testing for HIV amongst their staff.
Talking about HIV testing is an excellent start, but actually getting anyone to walk in the door of a health clinic, VCT centre, or ask their doctor about HIV testing takes more than a poster or pamphlet. This story is about building partnerships, knowledge, confidence and skills in how to get an HIV test if you are a working person.
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We would like to thank our friends at the Salvation Army’s “House of Hope” at Ela Beach for joining BAHA in promoting voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) for our members who have employees who work in town.
Left- BAHA policy and training officer Barrow Kirupana on his way to a meeting with counsillors at the House of Hope at Ela Beach.
In April, BAHA, Westpac and the PNG Ports Corporation two companies teamed up with the staff at Ela Beach to promote their service. The first stage of any health promotion begins with making friends with your service provider. So we began by making regular visits to our new friends at Ela Beach. We all agreed that in order to develop an effective VCT promotion for our members we needed to understand and experience the process of voluntary counselling and testing for HIV ourselves. So this story comes to you from the BAHA staff who don’t just talk about it, they really walk the talk!
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 During March and April 2009 BAHA staff – Jean, Maddy, Joan, Barrow, Chiharu, Otto, Eileen, Joe and Caroline proved they are no different from anyone else. They needed time, encouragement and confidence to visit Ela Beach as part of our new campaign to promote HIV testing for city workers.
Left-While waiting their turn, BAHA staff discuss how much time it takes to have an HIV test when it includes pre and post test counselling at the House of Hope, Ela Beach
The next step was working with the ultra dynamic HIV site committee from Westpac. Their committee decided they would like to start their VCTpromotion campaign with a tour of two VCT clinics – the House of Hope and the Laws Rd clinic.
House of hope ela beach
Left - The House of Hope VCT is conveniently located on Ela Beach, next to Haus Ruth and the Ela Beach Hotel
Right - The newly renovated Lawes Rd Clinic is operated by Hope Worldwide and FHI it is across the road of Trukai Industries who also run a very successful VCT program in Lae
Lawes road vcct clinic Kone
westpac staff at HoH vcct centre
Left- Inside the House of Hope, Jennifer explains to the Westpac Site Committee, the process of voluntary counselling and testing. Here she explains the process of pre and post testing counselling that, by law, must be given before every HIV test.
In this photo the HIV counsellor explains to the Westpac site committee that VCT includes a finger prick blood test. It takes about 15 minutes for the “rapid test” to react. If the test “reacts” then a venous blood sample is taken.
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The picture below shows how the PNG Ports Corporation began its HIV program by promoting VCCT. All new recruits and managers receive HIV basics whilst undergoing yearly induction training on Tuesday 19th May 2009.
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Promoting VCCT to our policyholders by introducing not only the service but taking employees to physically visit a site helps break down barriers to entry or ideas about how difficult the service is to access. Visits to a VCCT site encourages individual employee to come for VCCT at his/her own time.
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Westpac and PNG Ports are to be congratulated on their innovations in breaking down barriers and making these services more easily available

Thank you kindly

Barrow Kirupana

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