International Medical Corps and the Center for Communication against HIV/AIDS, CECOSIDA, join forces this week in a push for HIV testing throughout the greater Port-au-Prince area.
The initiative, which focuses on community mobilization and education, targets three communities surrounding International Medical Corps clinics – Petionville and Bolosse. The promotion leads up to National HIV Testing Day on June 25, a wider effort in which the two International Medical Corps clinics will provide free HIV testing to the Haitian public.
“As a newcomer to Haiti, we are honored to be a part of such a collaborative effort in the fight against HIV/AIDS,” says Dr. Jojo Cangao, International Medical Corps medical director in Haiti. “By creating National HIV Testing Day, CECOSIDA has created the perfect platform for organizations like International Medical Corps to make sure more people within our communities are tested.”
At Petionville Camp, International Medical Corps and CECOSIDA will provide HIV education to more than 600 women through Oxfam’s mother’s groups and will train IsraAid’s youth groups to disseminate HIV messages throughout the camp using megaphones and educational materials. Community education sessions will also be held at Bolosse.
CECOSIDA will also facilitate the training of International Medical Corps nurses in HIV testing and consultation at all three sites in preparation for National Testing Day.
International Medical Corps and CEOCSIDA are also using the World Cup as a platform for HIV/AIDS education and printed a game schedule with HIV messages that will also be shared via Haitian radio and television during the World Cup games.