Community Health Action Trust (CHAT)

Updated On: 5 October 2009

Projects: The Community-based Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre (VCT) Clinic

COMMUNITY BASED VOLUNTARY COUNSELLING AND TESTING CENTRE

Purpose

The purpose of the clinic is to provide a community based location for the delivery of culturally specific, holistic health services. The services include testing for HIV antibodies for early diagnosis, providing health promotion materials and training to prevent new STIs and HIV infection and to support those who are infected or affected

Goals

* To provide specific information and encourage screening for hypertension, diabetes and Chlamydia.
* To carry out health awareness in the community of Brent.
* To encourage and provide extensive voluntary Rapid HIV antibody tests.

The community based voluntary counselling and testing clinic (VCT) was initiated in 2007 as pilot project tor the Brent community, targeting the hard to reach populations of Black Minority Ethnic Groups (BME)

The campaign was 123 �Know Your Body� medical checks offering check ups for

* Blood Pressure or Hypertension
* Diabetes
* Chlamydia
* HIV test

DOCUMENTED BEST PRACTICE

The CHAT Voluntary Counselling and Testing clinic was documented as a best practice in �The London VCT Project Report of August 2007�

Model 1-GP/Health Facilities

Model 2-Community Health Action Trust (CHAT)

After a successful first year (2007), Brent PCT funded the project for another year 2008/2009.

ACTIVITIES

Rapid HIV antibody Finger Prick Test

* It is a Free and confidential walk-in clinic Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 10am-5pm at CHAT offices Willesden High Road, Moran house.
* Tuesday 10an-5pm at Monks Park clinic
* Pre- Test counselling/discussions include the meaning and implications of the test, leading the to an informed decision to do the test or to opt out.

* HIV Determine 1/2 antibody Finger Prick Test - Results show in 15-20 minutes
* Post-Test counselling/ discussions include the meaning and implications of;
* Positive results
* Negative results
* Referrals
* Health Education and supply of condoms.
* To date 350 people have had an HIV antibody Test done through CHAT clinic.

OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

2008/2009 CHAT carried out extensive community mobilisation;

* Developing Health Promotion materials with a catch phrase �Better to Know than Not to Know�
* Organising and attending local events and workshops

* Distribution of leaflets to local GP surgeries, Pharmacies, shops, hair saloons, and barber shops.
* Media-Radio, local, newspapers, Internet and magazines
* Peer Education, AIDucation
* Health Education and Condom distribution both at clinic and general community.
* 27thMarch 2009 CHAT held it�s first ever open Day for the Clinic which was big success and was attended by people from many organisations from and outside Brent, Individual well-wishers of CHAT and members of Brent PCT Sexual Health Team.

Despite the success of the project, there have been challenges too;

* It is still very difficult to reach the hard to reach target group (Black Minority Ethnic Group)
* The community is still ignorant of sexually transmitted Infections.
* Stigma, denial, discrimination,
* Fear of the test, fear of the unknown sero-status,
* Language barrier

The struggle continues

STAFF

We have a friendly, dedicated and well trained team,

* The rapid HIV antibody is performed by a trained Nurse,
* Outreach work is done by dedicated outreach worker and a team of volunteers.

We are continuously inviting the residents of Brent to register and volunteer with us.

For more infoformation go to www.knowyourstatus.co.uk

For more information on the The Community-based Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre (VCT) Clinic, please click here!

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