Parenthood association takes the fight to HIV/AIDS
5,842 accessed clinical services last year
Stabroek News
November 20, 2002
The Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA) is taking the fight against HIV/AIDS to the streets with programmes aimed at minibuses drivers and conductors.
Delivering the Executive Director's Report at the GRPA's Annual General Meeting last Wednesday, Frederick Cox, Executive Director said staff have been working with minibus drivers and conductors with a view to reducing the incidence of HIV/AIDS. Mobile clinics, peer education and outreach work are some of the other activities.
Cox said 5,842 persons had accessed the Association's clinical services this year - an increase of 8%. The GRPA has recruited a medical laboratory technologist to do tests on cytology, haematology and histopathology (cell biology) in order to ensure more accurate diagnoses.
The GRPA is also planning to make training in cryosurgery available early next year. This would help women who might have detected early abnormalities of the cervix.
Cox said that the board intends to seek ways of earning income, since the organisation's key funding agency, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), is allocating less money with every passing year.
The Executive Director's Report pointed out that the association has embarked on a number of projects focusing on education in sexual and reproductive health and other related issues.
Cox also outlined other plans that his agency has for the promotion of positive youth activities. Some of these included reviewing of the programme offered to youths at the Olga Byrne Youth Centre (OBYC) and a review of the constitution of the Youth Advocacy Movement (YAM). The Executive Director said inadequate funding prevented staff members from travelling to the different communities to evaluate and conduct requested outreach programmes.
There were a number of six-week training courses in Sexual and Reproductive Health, Family Life Education and Contraceptive Technology targeting health care workers, teachers and community leaders.
Delivering the feature address was Joyce Sinclair, who stressed the need for human resource training in the workplace.
